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THE  NEW   CHURCH 


a  Brief  Ibistor^  of  the 
jFxtet  Presbyterian  Cburcb 
of  mewtown,  %onQ  IFsIanb 


UoQctbcv  witb  tbe 
sermon  t)elivere&  bv 
tbe  pastor,  on  tbe 
occasion  ot  tbe  250tb 
Hnniversars  ot  tbe 
«  «  «  Cburcb  •  «  « 


®ct»  zetb^Viov.  2b 
X902 


©fHcers 


Rev.  WM.  H.  HENDRICKSON 

Pastor 

Kulina  Elders 

JOHN  H.  PRALL 
GUSTAVE  HAFLINGER 
COE  F.  HOWARD 

Deacons 

J.  WILLIAM  MORGAN 
THOMAS  L.  PROCTOR 

Crustees 

HENRY  BLACKWELL 
JOHN  G.  SCHEPER 
THOMAS  E.  HARDGROVE 
GEORGE  W.  REY 
GEORGE  L.  MARSHALL 

JAMES  L.  M.  HATHAWAY 

Treasurer 

LOUIS  S.  BOND 

Musical  Director 

Mrs.  GEO.  L.  MARSHALL 

Org-anist 


REV /  WILLIAM    H.    HENDRICKSON 


Jlcknowleddmetit 

Zbe  writer  berebg  acftnowleOges  bis 
in&ebteJ>nes6  to  tbc  several  sources  from 
wbicb  tbe  information  contained  in  tbe 
following  bistorical  article  was  obtained, 
particularly,  to  "  IRifter's  annals  of  -Kew* 
town,"  to  tbe  printeb  manuscripts  of 
tbose  wbo  bave  serveb  as  pastors  of  tbis 
cburcb,  an£)  to  tbose  members  of  tbe 
cburcb,  wbo,  bg  correspondence  witb  tbe 
bescenOants  of  tbe  earlB  pastors  anb 
members  of  tbe  cburcb,  anb  witb  various 
universities  anb  colleges,  obtained  mucb 
of  tbe  information  berein  recorbeb. 

"OQlm.  1).  "benbrlcftson 

October,  1902 


Ibistorie  of  the 
ifirst  ipreeb^tedan  Cburcb 

IRewtown,  X.  t. 


\652A902 


^ur0  PuwdrjexX  diuA  ^ift^a  ^^ars 

^^0^  in  1652,  a  few  English  emigrants 
from  New  England  came  to  this  locality, 
calling   it    Middleburg. 

"  Several  of  the  new  comers  were  direct  from  Green- 
wich, Stamford,  Fairfield,  and  other  villages  along  the 
Connecticut  shore.  From  Boston  and  Salem,  Mass.,  and 
from  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  came  men  who  afterward  were 
prominently  identified  with  the  town." 

To  the  credit  of  the  early  settlers  of  Middleburg  be 
it  said,  they  dealt  fairly  with  the  Indians,  who  held 
undisputed  possession  of  the  land,  purchasing  from 
them,  as  the  early  records  show,  1,376  acres  of  land  for 
one  shilling  per  acre. 

"  The  hamlet  was  begun  upon  the  street  whereon 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  village  of  Newtown 
now  stands,  on  both  sides  of  which  lots  were  laid  out. 
And  then  resounded  the  axe  in  the  forest;  the  noise  of 
the  saw  and  the  hammer  told  the  arrival  of  a  people  un- 
like any  those  wilds  had  ever  known  before." 

A  scene  of  life  and  activity  ensued,  and  a  group  of 
cottages — fashioned  after  those  of  New  England — of 
simple  construction,  and  roofed  with  thatch,  arose  to 
adorn  the  new  settlement,  to  which  the  name  of  Middle- 
burg was  given,  after  a  place  of  some  note  in  the 
Netherlands,  the  capital  of  the  province  of  Zealand,  and 
remembered  with  gratitude  as  the  asylum  of  many  of  the 
English  Puritans. 

Next  to  providing  for  their  families,  the  new  settlers 
broke  up  the  fallow  ground,  committed  their  seed  to 


lO 


the  earth,  and  the  summer  of  1652  witnessed  the  in- 
gathering of  the  first  harvest  in  Middleburg. 

After  two  and  a  half  centuries,  we  are  a  rapidly  grow- 
ing community,  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  modern  con- 
veniences; no  longer  a  distinct  and  separate  town  or 
village,  but  a  part  of  the  greater  city  of  New  York  so 
recently  organized. 

We  do  not  forget,  however,  that  there  is  much  of 
interest  in  the  past  history  of  the  town,  much  that  is 
worthy  of  our  attention,  and,  which,  though  a  matter  of 
history,  will  bear  repetition. 

The  early  history  of  Middleburg  was  not  altogether 
a  peaceful  one;  the  first  years  were  marked  by  rumors 
of  war,  which  so  startled  the  people  that  some  of  them, 
with  residents  of  Maspeth  and  Vlissingen  (Flushing), 
went  to  Stamford,  Conn.,  for  safety. 

These  rumors  grew  out  of  a  story  that  Governor 
Stuyvesant  had  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the 
Indians  to  help  him  against  the  English;  doubtless  these 
rumors  were  exaggerated  because  England  and  Hol- 
land were  then  at  war,  and  fear  was  aroused  lest  the 
Dutch  rise  against  the  English  in  and  near  New  Am- 
sterdam; this  was  followed  by  Indian  outrages  and 
depredations,  that  kept  the  early  settlers  in  constant 
fear  for  their  lives,  and  constant  watchfulness  of  their 
possessions. 

But  still  another  enemy  is  mentioned  by  Riker;  he 
says :  "  An  enemy  more  insidious  and  fatal  to  the  peace 
of  the  settlement  was  lurking  among  its  habitations. 
Intemperance  had  appeared  to  such  an  extent  as  to  call 
for  some  restrictions  upon  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors. 
On  August  22,  1659,  the  town  court  ordered  that  no 
inhabitant  of  the  place  should  sell  any  liquors  or  strong 
drink  by  retail,  after  the  first  of  the  ensuing  September, 
without  an  order  from  the  magistrates,  upon  penalty  of 
fifty  guilders  (about  nineteen  dollars)." 


II 


During  the  unsettled  times  of  1662  andi663,  Middle- 
burg  was  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut, 
by  reason  of  a  charter  from  Charles  II.,  confirming  to 
that  colony  "  the  islands  adjacent,"  which  Connecticut 
interpreted  as  conveying  Long  Island  to  the  colony. 
"  Middleburg,  m  allegiance  to  Charles  11. ,  showed  its 
loyalty  by  discarding  the  name  by  which  the  township 
had  been  designated  since  its  settlement,  and  took  the 
name  of  Hastings,  after  a  town  in  Sussex,  England,  dis- 
tinguished in  history  as  the  scene  of  the  famous  victory 
of  William  the  Conqueror,  by  which  that  monarch  ob- 
tained the  throne  of  Britain." 

But  that  was  not  to  be  its  permanent  name,  for  in 
1665  Governor  Nicoll  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the 
several  towns,  directing  the  inhabitants  to  elect  dele- 
gates to  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Hempstead,  on  Feb- 
ruary 28,  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  province;  the  terri- 
tory then  brought  within  the  town  of  Hastings  was 
called  New  Towne,  or,  as  we  know  it,  Newtown.  Why 
the  name  should  have  been  changed  to  Elmhurst  in  the 
last  days  of  its  existence  as  a  separate  and  distinct  vil- 
lage, it  is  hard  to  say;  better  to  have  let  it  go  down  in 
history,  as  it  will  remain  in  the  memory  of  the  people, 
Newtown. 

One  thing  must  be  apparent  to  any  one  who  has  read, 
or  is  at  all  familiar  with,  the  history  of  Newtown :  i.e., 
the  history  of  the  town  and  church  is  one;  no  line  can  be 
drawn;  no  date,  other  than  that  of  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  can  be  fixed  upon  as  the  time  for  the  beginning  of 
religious  services.  The  town  and  church  came  to- 
gether, for  the  Rev.  John  Moore,  the  first  minister,  was 
one  of  the  original  settlers,  coming  from  Hempstead 
with  others  who  settled  at  Newtown. 

Out  of  this  original  ecclesiastical  body  grew  the 
church  whose  250th  anniversary  we  now  celebrate. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  settlers  was  to  set  aside 


12 


a  piece  of  land  on  which  to  erect  a  town  house,  to  be 
used  as  a  church  and  home  for  the  minister;  it  was  also 
to  be  used  for  a  day  school,  and  for  town  meetings. 

This  first  public  building  of  the  town  stood  where  the 
house  of  the  late  Dr.  Franklin  Booth  now  stands,  on 
Broadway,  adjoining  Clermont  Terrace.  "  On  Decem- 
ber 13,  1670,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  voted  that  a 
meeting-house  should  be  built,  and  that  a  tax  of  forty 
pounds  be  made  on  the  citizens  of  Newtown,  to  be  paid 
one  half  in  corn  and  the  other  half  in  cattle."  Ralph 
Hunt,  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  town,  who,  under  the 
Dutch  government,  held  the  position  of  magistrate,  and 
was  also  a  town  surveyor  and  overseer,  gave  to  the 
town  "  a  small  gore  of  land  on  which  to  build  the 
edifice."  This  land  is  at  the  corner  of  Hofifman  Boule- 
vard and  Grand  Street,  on  which  now  stands  the  famous 
"  Corner  House,"  the  property  of  Mrs.  Brown.  On 
this  site  was  erected  the  first  church  building  in  New- 
town. In  the  fall  of  1694,  this  church  building  was  en- 
larged, the  work  being  done  under  the  direction  of  John 
Coe  and  Content  Titus. 

The  church  building  erected  in  1671  being  much 
dilapidated,  in  171 5  it  was  decided  that  a  new  one 
should  be  erected,  and  on  the  tenth  day  of  May,  in  that 
year,  Jonathan  Fish,  who  for  fifteen  years  was  the  town 
clerk,  presented  the  church  with  a  piece  of  ground  four 
rods  square;  the  deed  was  given  to  Robert  Wilson, 
Thomas  Hazard,  James  Renne,  and  Silas  Titus,  in  be- 
half of  the  "  dissenting  Presbyterian  Congregation  of 
Newtown."  This  land  was  situated  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Hoflfman  Boulevard,  and  is  that  on  which  the  old 
church  now  stands.  The  church  took  possession  of  this 
property  March  22,  1716,  and  work  on  the  new  edifice 
was  begun  immediately,  but  the  interior  was  not  fin- 
ished for  many  years,  a  pulpit  not  being  procured  until 
1 741.     This  structure  was  smaller  than  the  present  old 


13 

church,  which  stands  on  its  site;  it  was  adorned  with  a 
spire  in  which  was  a  small  bell.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  when  for  seven  years  Newtown  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  British,  they,  with  some  of  their  sym- 
pathizers, vented  their  spite  against  the  church  edifice, 
probably  because  most  of  the  Presbyterians  took  an 
active  part  against  the  English.  One  night  a  party  of 
young  Tories,  all  members  of  prominent  famihes  in  the 
town,  actually  sawed  ofif  the  steeple  of  the  church. 
Riker  says,  "  Embracing  the  occasion  to  vent  their 
hatred,  a  few  young  Tories,  shortly  after  the  British  got 
possession,  went  one  night  with  a  saw,  and  a  rope  taken 
from  the  well  of  Alexander  Whaley,  and  actually  sawed 
off  the  steeple  of  the  church."  He  further  says  that 
these  men  were  known,  and  in  a  foot-note  gives  initials 
of  those  who  were  the  leaders  in  the  work  of  desecrating 
God's  house,  citing  an  incident  where  one  was  brought 
to  shame  by  a  well-directed  jest  regarding  the  removal 
of  church  steeples,  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  the 
steeple  of  a  certain  church  in  New  York  was  to  be  taken 
down,  and  no  one  could  be  found  to  do  it;  one  of  the 
company  said,  "  Why,  give  *  *  *  a  hand  saw  and  a 
well-rope,  and  he'll  have  it  off  while  you  are  asleep." 
The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Goldsmith  says,  in  a  paper  entitled 
"  Memoranda  of  the  Revolution  in  Newtown  " :  "  The 
steeple  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  sawed  off  in  the 
night  by  certain  violent  Tories,  whose  names  are  well 
known."  After  this,  the  pews  were  removed  and  the 
building  used  as  a  prison  and  guard  house;  afterwards, 
the  British  took  the  church  down  and  used  such  of  the 
material  as  they  wanted  for  huts,  and  some  of  the  tim- 
bers were  sold  to  a  Mr.  Alburtis  for  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars ;  "  this,"  says  Dr.  Goldsmith,  "  is  the  only 
positive  evidence  I  have  that  the  church  was  torn  down 
by  the  British;  I  am  incHned  to  believe  it  was  so."  A 
pillar  on  which  the  pulpit  stood  was  converted  into  a 


14 

horse  post,  and  stood  at  the  side  of  the  Town  House  for 
a  long  time. 

After  the  Revolutionary  War,  when  the  people  re- 
turned to  Newtown,  only  five  of  the  members  of  the 
church  appeared  at  its  first  meetings.  These  had  no 
place  of  worship,  but  set  bravely  to  work  to  erect  an- 
other church  building,  the  foundation  stones  of  which 
were  laid  in  the  year  1787.  On  the  foundation  stones 
of  this  church  are  cut  the  initials  of  certain  prominent 
members  of  the  church  at  the  time  it  was  erected;  thus, 
to  this  day  are  they  known  as  lovers  and  supporters  of 
the  church.  This  building  was  enlarged  in  1836,  and  is 
now  used  for  Sunday-school  purposes. 

Once  again  we  speak  of  the  erection  of  a  church  edi- 
fice. Mr.  John  Goldsmith  Payntar,  who  was  born  in, 
and  spent  the  first  eighteen  years  of  his  life  in  Newtown 
village,  died  in  August,  1891;  he  left  to  this  church 
sufficient  money  for  the  erection  of  a  magnificent  stone 
building,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  July  6, 
1893,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  company  of  people;  this 
edifice  was  completed  nearly  two  years  later,  and  was 
dedicated  Sunday,  May  5,  1895.  The  previous  Sunday, 
an  appropriate  historic  sermon  was  delivered  in  the  old 
church  by  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Jacob  E.  Mallmann,  and 
the  farewell  service  was  held  in  that  historic  building, 
where  so  many  generations  had  Hstened  to  the  word  of 
God,  and  been  instructed  in  the  way  of  righteousness. 
On  the  day  of  dedication,  the  sermon  was  preached  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  John  D.  Wells,  of  Brooklyn,  from  Psalm 
xlvi.  6,  "  Strength  and  beauty  are  in  His  Sanctuary." 
This  substantial  and  magnificent  building  will  be  the 
home  of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  for  many  years 
to  come.  A  bronze  tablet  in  the  vestibule  contains  the 
following  tribute  to  Mr.  Payntar  and  his  generosity: 

"  To  the  glory  of  God,  and  for  the  welfare  of  His 
people,  this  church  was  erected  in  grateful  memory  of 


MR.   JOHN   GOLDSMITH    PAYNTAR 


15 

John  Goldsmith  Payntar,  whose  love  for  his  early  home, 
and  veneration  for  God's  house,  provided  the  funds  by 
will  to  build  this  edifice." 

Just  as  it  was  said  in  the  late  war  with  Spain,  "  it  was 
the  men  behind  the  guns "  who  made  possible  the 
speedy  victories  and  the  heretofore  unheard-of  tri- 
umphs, so  we  say,  much  of  the  blessing  that  came  to  the 
community  and  people  was  because  of  the  men  in  the 
pulpit ;  not  only  so,  but  because  of  the  men  who,  in  ad- 
dition to  their  preaching  of  divine  truth,  and  being 
advisers  in  spiritual  things,  were  counsellors  in  all 
things  that  related  to  the  interests  of  the  community. 
They  were  at  all  times  leaders  in  the  community,  and 
their  words  told  for  God  and  righteousness;  those  were 
days  when  the  influence  of  the  minister  was  very  great 
in  things  outside  the  church,  when  his  opinion  was 
sought  and  his  advice  heeded. 

One  has  only  to  notice  the  record  of  the  men  of  God 
who  have  been  pastors  of  this  church,  and  the  events 
that  transpired  during  their  diflferent  pastorates,  to  be 
convinced  of  their  power  and  influence  in  the  commu- 
nity and  among  the  people.  In  the  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  of  the  church's  history  it  has  had  nineteen 
pastors.  The  first  of  these  was  the  Rev.  John  Moore. 
He  was  an  Englishman,  and  came  to  New  England 
when  he  was  twenty  or  twenty-one  years  of  age.  It  is 
a  matter  of  record  that  he  settled  at  Southampton,  L.  I., 
in  1644;  he  was  engaged  in  collecting  funds  for  the  edu- 
cation of  students  in  Harvard  University,  w'here,  in 
1646,  he  completed  his  studies.  In  the  same  year  he 
obtained  a  license  to  preach,  though  not  authorized  to 
administer  the  sacraments,  being  merely  a  Hcentiate, 
and  not  a  regularly  ordained  minister.  On  account  of 
the  Indian  troubles  on  the  eastern  end  of  Long  Island 
at  that  time,  he  moved  to  Hempstead,  evidently  preach- 
ing the  gospel  there,  as  he  had  done  at  Southampton. 


i6 

In  1652,  he  moved  to  Newtown  and  became  the  first 
minister  in  the  village.  In  the  winter  of  1655-6,  Mr. 
Moore  returned  to  England,  for  the  purpose,  it  is 
thought,  of  receiving  ordination.  He  returned  in  1657, 
and  died  in  September  of  that  year,  when  comparatively 
a  young  man.  Mr.  Moore  was  an  educated  man  and 
excellent  preacher.  His  descendants  were  prominent 
and  influential  in  the  town  and  church.  Among  his 
descendants  were  two  bishops  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  two  presidents  of  Columbia  College.  The  name  of 
Moore  has  nearly  died  out  in  the  community,  there 
being  but  one  male  descendant  in  the  town  at  this  time. 
Mr.  Moore  was  buried  in  what  is  now  called  "  the 
Town  Burying  Ground,"  on  Court  Street,  but  no  stone 
marks  his  grave,  nor  is  its  exact  location  known;  thus 
unknown,  and  almost  forgotten,  lie  the  remains  of  the 
first  minister  of  this  church,  and  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored and  respected  men  in  the  community  during  his 
life-time. 

In  those  early  days  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  secure 
the  services  of  a  minister,  and  for  nearly  five  years  the 
town  had  no  minister.  In  1661,  Richard  Mills  became 
the  first  school  teacher  in  Newtown,  and  in  addition  to 
his  school  duties,  he  was  to  conduct  religious  exercises 
on  Sundays. 

In  1662,  the  Rev.  William  Leverich  was  settled  as 
pastor,  being  given  the  use  of  the  Town  House,  which 
had  undergone  extensive  repairs.  Riker  says,  "  The 
learned  and  reverend  William  Leverich,  than  whom  his 
descendants  need  wish  no  better  ancestry,"  and  one  of 
his  descendants  adds  he  "  appears  to  us  on  the  pages  of 
colonial  history  as  a  man  of  singular  piety  and  learning; 
of  great  executive  ability,  and  as  a  true  soldier  in  the 
Christian  warfare.  Like  the  great  Apostle,  he  was  a 
man  of  many  journeys,  the  founder  of  many  churches, 
the  friend,  counsellor,  and  pastor  of  his  people.     Or  we 


17 

may  see  him  with  Bible  in  hand,  telling  the  Indians,  in 
their  native  tongue,  of  the  love  of  One  '  Who  loved 
them  and  gave  Himself  for  them.'  " 

Mr.  Leverich  was  born  in  England  in  1605;  he  was  a 
son  of  Sir  Sabille  Leverich  of  Drawlington  Hall,  War- 
wickshire; he  was  a  graduate  of  Emmanuel  College, 
Cambridge,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  B.  on  his  gradu- 
ation in  1625,  and  of  A.M.  in  1631.  "  Though  born  and 
educated  in  the  Church  of  England,  his  sympathies  were 
with  the  Non-Conformists.  A  colony  of  merchants 
from  Bristol,  England,  had  settled  at  Dover,  New 
Hampshire,  of  which  Captain  Thomas  Wiggins  was  the 
superintendent.  In  1632,  he  went  to  England  in  the 
interests  of  the  colony,  and  on  October  10,  1633,  re- 
turned in  the  ship  'James,'  with  thirty  others;  among 
them,  says  the  record  of  Winthrop,  '  was  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Leverich,  a  godly  minister.'  They  landed  at  Salem, 
Mass.,  and  reached  Dover  on  the  last  Sunday  in 
October."  Mr.  Leverich  remained  at  Dover  but  two 
years;  he  then  went  to  Boston,  Mass.;  there  he  entered 
into  friendship  with  those  two  noted  men,  the  Rev.  John 
Cotton  and  the  Rev.  John  EHot;  soon  afterward  he  be- 
came associated  with  the  Rev.  Ralph  Partridge,  of  Dux- 
bury,  Mass.  "  In  1637,  Mr.  Leverich,  with  ten  others, 
went  to  Sandwich,  Cape  Cod.  They  were  soon  joined 
by  fifty  more  from  Duxbury,  and  a  church  was  formed 
with  Mr.  Leverich  as  pastor."  Influenced  by  the  Rev. 
John  Eliot,  Mr.  Leverich,  during  his  pastorate  at  Sand- 
wich, made  a  study  of  the  Indian  language,  and 
preached  to  the  Indians  with  marked  success,  "  In 
view  of  his  success  among  the  natives,  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians 
directed  that  he  should  turn  his  attention  to  the  Indians 
of  Long  Island.  Accordingly,  in  1652,  with  a  dozen  or 
more  parishioners,  he  explored  the  country  about 
Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island,  and  in  1653,  with  these  faith- 


i8 


ful  friends  of  Sandwich,  he  left  Cape  Cod  for  the  shores 
of  Long  Island,  the  '  Isle  of  Shells.'  "  He  continued 
his  work  among  the  Indians  of  that  locality  until  1658, 
when  he  removed  to  Huntington,  L.  L,  where  he  re- 
mained as  pastor  until  1662,  when  he  became  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Newtown.  In  the  early  part  of  1665  Mr. 
Leverich  returned  to  Huntington,  and  for  three  years 
the  town  was  without  a  minister;  but  in  the  early  part  of 
1669,  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Newtown,  Mr.  Leverich  was  persuaded  to  return  to 
Newtown  and  resume  his  ministerial  work. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Leverich  that  the 
first  church  building  was  erected.  He  died  in  the  midst 
of  his  usefulness  and  influence,  in  the  spring  of  1677. 
Dr.  Knox,  in  his  twenty-fifth  anniversary  sermon,  says  of 
him :  "  He  may  be  considered  the  father  of  this  church. 
He  had  unquestionably  organized  its  members;  but  how 
organized,  or  what  spiritual  fruit  of  his  labors,  or  how 
many  in  membership,  we  do  not  know,  as  all  record  of 
these  facts  are  lost."  Mr.  Leverich  was  a  most  learned 
man  and  ranked  high  among  the  clergy  of  his  day;  he 
was  a  firm  friend  of  the  Indian,  to  whom  he  took  the 
light  of  the  Gospel;  he  faithfully  served  the  people 
among  whom  he  lived,  and  was  deeply  and  sincerely 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  him;  his  name  is  still  borne  by 
people  living  in  and  near  Newtown.  He  has  as  a 
memorial  a  number  of  pages  of  manuscript,  consisting 
of  a  running  commentary  on  the  first  books  of  the  Old 
Testament,  and  it  furnishes  a  proof  of  his  learning  and 
proficiency  in  Bible  study.  The  writing,  while  very 
perfect  and  handsome,  is  so  fine  as  to  make  it  almost  im- 
possible to  read  with  the  naked  eye.  This  curious 
manuscript  is  now  bound  up  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
town  records,  or,  rather,  it  is  written  on  the  first  one 
hundred  pages  of  the  book,  which,  it  would  seem,  was 
at  one  time  the  property  of  Mr.  Leverich,  and  intended 


19 

by  him  to  be  an  index  to  the  subjects  he  should  meet  in 
the  course  of  his  studies;  but  the  plan  was  not  carried 
out  beyond  the  pages  being  headed  with  a  great  variety 
of  subjects  written  in  Latin  and  arranged  alphabetically. 
After  Mr.  Leverich's  death  the  book  was  probably 
given  to  the  town  for  public  records. 

On  July  28,  1677,  it  was  voted  by  the  citizens  of  the 
town  at  a  public  meeting,  that  a  second  Town  House 
should  be  built  for  the  accommodation  of  a  minister;  it 
was  also  voted  that  another  minister  be  secured  as  soon 
as  possible,  but  it  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1680  that 
the  vacant  pulpit  was  filled,  when  the  Rev.  Morgan 
Jones  was  called  by  the  town  to  be  its  minister.  Mor- 
gan Jones  was  the  son  of  John  Jones,  of  Baasaleg,  in 
Monmouthshire,  England,  and  a  near  relative  of  Colonel 
John  Jones,  the  brother-in-law  of  Oliver  Cromwell. 
Mr.  Jones  was  a  graduate  of  Jesus  College,  Oxford,  and 
received  ordination  as  a  minister  of  the  Church  of 
England;  he  had  charge  of  a  parish  in  Wales.  On  the 
passage  of  the  act  of  uniformity  in  1662,  he  was  one  of 
about  two  thousand  ministers  who  refused  to  agree  to 
its  terms  and  was  ejected  from  his  parish.  He  came  to 
America,  where  in  1669  he  was  in  Virginia  officiating  as 
chaplain  to  Major  General  Bennett ;  from  there  he  went 
to  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  captured  by  the  Tus- 
carora  Indians,  who  decided  to  put  him  to  death;  his 
life  was  saved  by  a  sachem  of  the  Doeg  Indians,  who 
found  that  Mr.  Jones  was  an  Englishman,  and,  taking  a 
fancy  to  him,  ransomed  him,  and  took  him  to  the  settle- 
ment of  his  own  tribe.  Mr.  Jones  remained  for  four 
months,  preaching  to  the  Indians  three  times  a  week  in 
English,  which  language  they  understood;  he  was 
treated  with  great  kindness,  and  the  Indians  frequently 
went  to  him  for  advice  and  counsel. 

On  coming  to  Newtown,  Mr.  Jones  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  Town  House  erected  in  1677,  which  stood 


20 


on  the  site  of  the  present  Newtown  Hotel  on  Broad- 
way ;  the  town  also  agreed  to  give  him  fifty  pounds  ster- 
ling per  year  for  his  services.  The  agreement  of  Mr. 
Jones  with  the  town  stands  on  the  records  as  follows: 

"  This  is  to  certify  home  it  may  concern,  that  I  Mor- 
gan Jones  doe  acknowled  to  have  a  Greed  with  the  con- 
stable and  overseers  of  Newtown  on  Long  Island,  In 
West  Riding  of  Yorkshire  in  America,  In  the  behalfe 
of  the  towne  for  to  be  there  minister,  and  to  doe  the 
work  of  a  minister  fifor  the  full  time  of  one  year,  be 
Ginning  att  the  tenth  of  March  in  the  year  1680." 
"  Witness  my  hand, 

"  Morgan  Jones." 

At  the  end  of  the  year  there  was  much  trouble  in  col- 
lecting Mr.  Jones'  salary,  as  some  objected  to  the  law 
that  compelled  them  to  pay  a  portion  of  the  minister's 
salary  whether  they  agreed  with  his  doctrines  and 
preaching  or  not.  Others  could  not  understand 
English,  and  objected  to  help  support  a  man  they  could 
not  understand;  probably  on  account  of  this,  Mr.  Jones 
left  the  town  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  accepted  a  call 
from  Staten  Island.  He  made  a  complaint,  through  the 
town  constable,  to  the  Court  of  Sessions,  about  the  non- 
payment of  his  salary,  and  the  Court  ordered  the  en- 
forcement of  the  law  against  those  who  had  not  paid 
their  proportion  of  his  salary. 

The  unfairness  of  this  law  now  became  very  evident, 
and  a  Town  Meeting  was  called  December  17,  1681,  to 
consider  the  matter.  A  liberal  sentiment  prevailed  and 
it  was  voted  to  sustain  the  minister  "  by  a  free  will  offer- 
ing, what  every  man  will  give  ";  thereafter  the  minister 
was  paid  in  that  way. 

Mr.  Jones  had  the  same  trouble  in  collecting  his 
salary  in  Staten  Island,  and  left  there  to  return  to  New- 
town, agreeing  to  accept  a  "  free  will  offering  "  for  his 


21 


services,  which  were  to  include,  in  addition  to  religious 
services,  the  duties  of  a  school-master,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  following  minute  on  the  Town  Records:  "  Att 
Towne  Meating  February  28,  1683,  it  is  also  voted  that 
Mr.  Morgan  Jones  shall  be  scoole  master  of  Newtown, 
and  will  teach  on  the  Sabath  days  to  those  that  will 
come  to  hear  him  alowing  him  for  exercising  on  the 
Sabath  day  what  every  one  please."  Mr.  Jones  con- 
tinued his  work  in  Newtown  until  August,  1686,  when 
he  resigned  and  went  to  Eastchester. 

In  1693  the  first  attempt  was  made  by  the  govern- 
ment to  force  the  ministrations  of  the  Church  of 
England  upon  the  people  of  Newtown.  On  September 
22d,  a  law  was  passed  to  divide  Queens  and  several 
other  counties  into  parishes,  providing  for  the  annual 
election  in  each  parish  of  two  church  wardens  and  ten 
vestrymen  to  superintend  the  affairs  of  the  church. 
These  men  were  given  power  to  call  a  minister,  and, 
with  the  justices,  to  lay  a  yearly  tax  upon  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  town  for  his  support.  Newtown,  with 
Flushing  and  Jamaica,  formed  one  parish,  whose  inhab- 
itants were  required  to  furnish  sixty  pounds  sterling  for 
the  support  of  a  minister,  who  was  to  reside  in  Jamaica. 
All  this  was  resented  by  the  people,  who,  up  to  this 
time,  had  enjoyed  the  services  of  the  minister  of  their 
own  choice,  who  lived  among  them  and  was  supported 
by  their  contributions.  To  be  obliged  to  support  a 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  residing  in  an- 
other town,  was  strongly  objected  to,  and  Content  Titus 
and  Daniel  Bloomfield  were  appointed  in  1694  to  at- 
tend a  meeting  to  be  held  at  Jamaica  for  the  purpose 
of  petitioning  the  Assembly  to  repeal  this  unjust  law. 
In  consequence  of  these  objections  the  Assembly,  on 
April  9,  1695,  passed  a  bill  exempting  Newtown  from 
the  requirements  of  the  law,  but  the  Governor  refused 
to  sign  the  bill. 


22 


After  Mr.  Jones's  resignation  and  removal  from  the 
town,  the  church  was  again  without  a  pastor  for  some 
time.     Turning  again  to  the  records  of  the  town,  we 
find  that  on  April  12,  1694,  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted :  "  The  town  will  call  a  minister  to  preach  the 
gospel  amongst  us  upon  liking."     In  accordance  with 
this  resolution  a  letter  was  prepared  for  Content  Titus, 
who  went  to  New  England  to  secure  a  minister;  he  suc- 
ceeded in  persuading  the  Rev.  John  Morse  to  accom- 
pany him  to  Newtown.     Mr.  Morse  became  the  fourth 
pastor  of  the  church;  he  was  the  son  of  Ezra  Morse,  a 
prominent  resident  of  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  was  born  in 
that   town,   March   31,    1674.     Early   in   life   he   gave 
evidence  of  intellectual  ability,  and  when  but  eighteen 
years  of    age    graduated  from    Harvard  College;  two 
years  later  he  came  to  Newtown.     At  a  public  meeting 
held  May  15,  1697,  this  resolution  concerning  Mr.  Morse 
was  adopted :  ''  It  is  the  desire  of  the  town  that  Mr. 
John  Morse  to  be  ordained  for  to  be  ye  paster  and 
teacher  of  our  church  according  to  ye  trueth  of  the 
gospel,  and  also  voted  at  ye  same  time  above  that  these 
men  are  underwritten  chosen  by  the  Town  for  to  elect 
and  Carrie  on  the  minister  in  order  to  the  act  above. 
Captain  Beats,  Content  Titus,  Samuel  Moer,  Ch.  Hallit, 
Joseph  Sackit,  Caleb  Leverich,  John  Berrian,  Mr.  Eisel, 
Richard  Bets,  John  Lawrence,  John  Coe,  Edward  Hunt, 
Jeremiah  Burroughs,  Jonathan  Hazard." 

The  above  names  give  a  good  idea  as  to  who  were 
the  prominent  church  members  at  that  time. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  "  that  the  town  be 
at  the  charge  to  by  a  bell  for  the  town,  of  about  ten 
pounds  value."  Soon  afterward  the  sound  of  a  church 
bell  was  heard  for  the  first  time  in  Newtown. 

On  Wednesday,  the  9th  of  September,  at  a  Town 
Meeting,  the  following  was  voted :  "  Whereas  Mr.  John 
Morse  hath  consented  to  be  ordained  to  the  worke  of 


THE    FIRST    PARSONAGE — 1 695 


23 

ye  minestery  at  the  solicitation  of  those  persons  deputed 
by  the  town  to  treat  with  him  about  that  affair.  It  is 
there  foer  voted  and  agreed  that  we  doe  exsept  him  as 
our  menester,  to  dispense  to  us  in  things  speritall 
according  to  the  mind  of  Christ  and  order  of  the  gospell, 
and  will  doe  and  shall  redely  submit  ouer  selves  to  him 
in  the  Lord  as  such  and  to  all  his  menesteriell  dispensa- 
tions and  sperital  administrations  among  us  according 
to  ye  mind  and  will  of  God,  as  God  shall  assist  and  direct 
him  from  time,  and  at  all  times,  whether  he  shall  con- 
tinue amongst  us  in  ye  works  of  the  menestiry."  After 
Mr.  Morse  had  been  in  Newtown  about  six  years  he 
contemplated  resigning  because  of  the  smallness  of  his 
salary.  As  soon  as  this  became  known  the  town 
people,  who  had  become  greatly  attached  to  him,  called 
a  public  meeting  on  July  4,  1700,  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  collect  the  salary  due  him,  and  also  try  and 
persuade  him  to  remain  with  them.  These  efforts  were 
successful,  and  Mr.  Morse  consented  to  remain.  Soon 
after  this  he  was  taken  violently  ill,  and  died  in  October, 
1700,  after  a  ministry  of  six  years. 

Mr.  Morse  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  people,  with 
whom  his  first  and  only  pastorate  was  spent.  His  early 
death  was  greatly  deplored. 

During  Mr.  Morse's  pastorate  on  April  17,  1695,  the 
town  decided  to  purchase  a  house  and  twelve  acres  of 
land  from  Samuel  Coe;  thus,  for  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  town,  a  building  was  set  apart  for  the  sole 
use  of  the  minister  and  his  family.  This  house  was  used 
for  over  a  century  as  a  parsonage,  and  is  still  standing 
on  Hoffman  Boulevard,  being  the  one  now  owned  by 
the  Thompson  estate. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Morse  it  was 
voted  "  to  obtain  another  minister  as  soon  as  possible," 
and  in  1701  the  Rev.  Robert  Breck  was  chosen  pastor. 
Mr.  Breck  was  born  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  December  7, 


24 

1682;  he  entered  upon  his  ministry  in  Newtown  with 
great  earnestness,  but  met  with  much  opposition.  Lord 
Cornbury,  the  Governor  of  the  Province,  was  anxious 
and  determined  to  establish  the  Church  of  England  in 
Queens  County.  In  order  to  accompHsh  his  purpose 
he  ordered  that  the  law  regarding  the  settlement  of 
ministers,  which  was  passed  in  1693,  be  now  put  in  force. 
On  January  12,  1703,  at  an  election  for  church  officers 
held  at  Jamaica,  Newtown  was  represented  by  William 
Glen,  church  warden,  and  John  Coe,  Content  Titus, 
Joseph  Sackett,  and  John  Berrian,  vestrymen.  These 
men,  as  well  as  others  in  the  vestry,  were  Non-Con- 
formists; they  protested  against  the  action  of  the 
governor  in  making  the  Rev.  William  Urquhart  rector 
of  the  parish  of  Jamaica,  thereby  displacing  the  Rev. 
John  Hubbard,  the  pastor  desired  by  the  Presbyterians. 
Mr.  Breck  was  a  strong  opponent  of  the  tyrannical 
governor;  he  boldly  took  the  part  of  the  Non-Con- 
formists in  spite  of  the  threats  and  other  ill  treatment 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  authorities.  At  last  he 
grew  weary  of  the  strife  and,  probably  having  been 
commanded  to  silence  by  the  governor,  resigned  his 
pastorate  in  1704,  and  after  a  ministry  of  three  years 
returned  to  Massachusetts;  he  there  became  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Marlborough,  where  he  died,  January  6, 
1 73 1.  A  handsome  monument  marks  the  place  of  his 
burial,  on  which  is  inscribed  a  eulogy  in  Latin,  which, 
as  it  gives  a  good  description  of  his  life  and  character, 
we  give  a  translation  of  in  full : 

"  Beneath  this  stone  are  deposited  the  mortal  remains 
of  the  truly  Reverend  Robert  Breck.  His  immortal 
part  hath  ascended  to  join  the  innumerable  company  of 
angels,  and  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect.  He  was 
by  nature  a  man  of  acute  intellect,  capacious  mind,  and 
sound  judgment,  together  with  singular  mental  resolu- 
tion.    As  to  his  attainments,  he  was  eminently  skilled 


25 

in  the  learned  languages,  familiar  beyond  the  common 
measure  with  poHte  literature;  and  what  to  others  was 
difficult,  he,  by  the  power  of  his  mind  and  close  applica- 
tion to  study,  accomplished  with  ease.  Thoroughly 
versed  in  every  department  of  theology  and  truly  ortho- 
dox in  sentiment,  he  was  a  scribe  instructed  unto  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven.  The  duties  of  the  pastoral  office 
in  the  church  at  Marlborough,  over  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  made  him  overseer,  he  discharged  faithfully  and 
assiduously,  in  peace  and  with  great  reputation,  for 
twenty-seven  years.  He  was  a  skilled  and  able  asserter 
of  the  doctrines  of  Revelation,  and  of  the  worship  and 
discipline  of  the  New  England  churches.  He  was  a 
counsellor  in  cases  of  difficulty,  both  public  and  private, 
of  distinguished  uprightness  and  consummate  prudence. 
He  was  a  sincere  lover  of  his  friends,  his  country,  and 
the  whole  church  of  Christ.  In  a  word,  he  was  a  model 
of  piety  and  every  social  virtue,  and  of  moderation  in 
regard  to  earthly  things.  In  the  severe  pains  of  his  last 
sickness  his  patience  had  its  perfect  work,  and  his  de- 
parture, if  not  in  triumph,  was  full  of  hope  and  peace. 

"  Born  December  7,  1682.  Died  January  6,  1731. 
Even  the  prophets  do  not  live  forever." 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Breck,  the  church  build- 
ing was  seized  by  the  authorities,  and  the  Rev.  William 
Urquhart  was  placed  in  charge,  by  order  of  the  gov- 
ernor. This  was  in  line  with  the  governor's  previous 
action  in  forcing  the  Episcopal  Church  upon  the  people. 

Mr.  Urquhart's  parish  included  Jamaica  and  Flush- 
ing, as  well  as  Newtown,  at  which  place  he  could  preach 
but  once  a  month;  this  was,  of  course,  a  great  hindrance 
to  the  progress  of  religion  in  this  town.  During  Mr. 
Urquhart's  ministry  in  the  town  there  were  frequent 
acts  of  religious  intolerance.  In  1707,  the  Rev.  Francis 
Mackemie  and  the  Rev.  Jofin  Hampton,  two  Presby- 
terian ministers,  arrived  in  the  province  on  their  way  to 


26 


New  England.  Mr.  Hampton  was  invited  by  the 
people  of  Newtown  to  preach  on  Sunday,  January  20th, 
which  request  he  complied  with,  and  gave  notice  that 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Hampton  would  hold  a  service  on  the  next 
Wednesday ;  but,  on  the  arrival  of  the  latter  on  Tuesday, 
both  ministers  were  arrested  by  Thomas  Cardale,  the 
high  sheriff,  on  a  warrant  from  Lord  Cornbury,  accus- 
ing them  of  preaching  without  a  license  from  his  lord- 
ship, w^ho  had  been  told  that  they  had  "  gone  into  Long 
Island  with  intent  there  to  spread  their  pernicious  doc- 
trine and  principles,  to  the  great  disturbance  of  the 
church  by  law  established,  and  the  government  of  the 
province."  After  being  in  prison  for  six  weeks,  Mr. 
Hampton  was  discharged,  there  being  no  evidence 
against  him.  Mr.  Mackemie  was  tried  and  honorably 
acquitted,  but  was  forced  to  pay  heavy  costs.  It  was 
because  of  such  tyrannical  acts  that  the  Church  of 
England  was  hated  and  its  ministry  disliked.  Mr. 
Urquhart  writes  of  the  people  of  Newtown  in  a  very 
interesting  way  in  1705;  he  says:  "The  inhabitants  of 
Queens  County  are  generally  Independents,  and  what 
are  not  so,  are  either  Quakers,  or  of  no  preferred 
religion  at  all :  the  generality  averse  to  the  discipline  of 
our  Holy  Mother,  the  Church  of  England,  and  enraged 
to  see  her  ministry  established  among  them.  The  an- 
cient settlers  have  transported  themselves  from  New 
England  and  do  still  keep  a  close  correspondence,  and 
are  buoyed  up  by  schismatical  instructions  thence, 
which  occasion  all  the  disturbance  and  opposition  we 
meet  in  both  our  parishes.  They  have  hitherto  been 
used  to  a  dissenting  ministry  and  they  still  support  one 
at  Jamaica,  who  has  a  most  pestilential  influence  over 
our  people,  who,  from  their  cradles,  were  disaffected  to 
conformity;  yet  we  bless  God  we  have  not  been  alto- 
gether unsuccessful,  having  brought  over  some  of  the 
most  rigid  of  them  into  a  close  communion,  and  hope 


27 

through  God's  assistance  to  have  a  more  plentiful 
harvest  among  them.  Their  prejudice  of  education  is 
our  misfortune,  our  church  their  bugbear."  The  Epis- 
copal Church  founded  by  Mr.  Urquhart  continues  to 
this  day. 

With  the  removal  from  office  of  Lord  Cornbury, 
greater  religious  liberty  was  permitted,  and  in  July, 
1708,  the  people  of  the  town,  to  the  number  of  "  some 
scores,"  sent  an  invitation  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Pumroy, 
of  Northampton,  Mass.,  to  become  their  minister.  Mr. 
Pumroy  was  born  at  Northampton,  September  16,  1687. 
He  graduated  from  Yale  College  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Solomon  Stoddard,  of 
Northampton.  Mr.  Pumroy  accepted  the  call  to  New- 
town, and  with  his  wife  came  to  this  place  in  September, 
1708;  he  soon  became  very  popular  with  the  people  and 
at  a  town  meeting,  held  February  18,  1709,  it  was 
resolved  "  that  Mr.  Pumroy  shall  be  settled  in  the  town, 
and  have  the  Town  House  for  his  own  use  as  long  as  he 
shall  be  our  minister";  beside  this,  a  subscription  list 
was  drawn  up  in  the  following  fall,  to  which  over  fifty 
persons  subscribed  such  sums  as  they  were  able.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Pumroy's  pastorate  an  event  of  much  interest 
transpired.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  coming  of  Mr.  Pum- 
roy, the  church  had  been  the  town  church,  that  is:  all 
its  business  had  been  transacted  at  a  regularly  called 
town  meeting;  all  the  records  of  the  church  were  kept 
with  the  town  records.  Some  have  thought  that  the 
church  records  previous  to  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Pum- 
roy have  been  lost,  but  on  examination,  the  old  town 
records  show  that  all  such  business  as  calling  a  minister, 
building  and  repairing  the  church  or  parsonage,  and 
other  matters  of  interest  pertaining  to  the  church,  are 
recorded  with  other  matters  of  business  transacted  in 
public  town  meetings.  True,  there  is  no  record  to  be 
found  of  a  list  of  church  membership,  or  marriages  and 
deaths,  a  matter  very  much  to  be  regretted. 


28 


After  Mr.  Pumroy  had  been  pastor  of  the  church  for 
seven  years,  he  made  application  for  membership  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  session  at  New  Castle, 
September  23,  171 5;  the  matter  is  thus  referred  to  on 
the  minutes  of  Presbytery : 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Pumroy,  minister  at  New- 
town, on  Long  Island,  offered  himself  to  be  a  member 
of  this  Presbytery,  and  was  heartily  and  unanimously 
accepted;  he  promising  subjection  to  the  Presbytery  in 
the  Lord."  Of  this,  Dr.  Knox  said :  "  This  church  had 
hitherto  been  an  immature  Presbyterian  Church,  under 
a  Congregational  polity;  but  now,  when  organized  Pres- 
byterianism  offered  itself,  it  at  once  entered  the  ranks 
of  that  denomination." 

Mr.  Pumroy  joined  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Macnish,  of 
Jamaica,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips,  of  Setauket,  in  or- 
ganizing the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island  in  171 7.  In 
1724  we  find  for  the  first  time  a  regularly  elected  ses- 
sion ;  in  that  year  three  ruling  elders  were  chosen  by  the 
people,  of  this  the  following  account  is  given :  "  Where- 
as some  time  ago  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Pumroy,  pastor 
of  the  church  of  Christ  in  Newtown,  did  complain  to  the 
church  of  his  wanting  some  assistance  in  the  business  of 
governing  the  church;  there  was  by  him  nominated  to 
the  church  and  congregation.  Content  Titus,  James 
Renne,  and  Samuel  Coe,  to  serve  in  the  affairs  relating 
to  the  church  as  ruling  elders;  and  desired  if  there  were 
any  person,  or  persons  that  had  anything  to  object 
against  any  of  them,  their  taking  upon  them  that  office 
and  their  subjection  to  them  as  officers  of  authority  in 
the  business  of  government,  that  they  would  signify  it 
to  the  said  Mr.  Pumroy  in  some  convenient  time.  This 
was  repeated  after  a  considerable  time,  nothing  being 
objected,  Mr.  Pumroy,  upon  the  Lord's  day,  after  the 
evening  sermon,  did  rehearse  the  above  declaration,  and 
not  one  person  opposing  the  motion  and  purpose,  did 


REV.  JOHN   P.    KNOX,    L.L.D. 


29 

propose  to  the  men  in  nomination,  whether  they  were 
freely  wilHng  to  do  what  service  they  were  able  to  do  for 
Christ  in  His  church;  upon  which,  after  prayer,  they 
were  solemnly  appointed  to  the  office  of  ruling  elders, 
and  did  engage  and  promise  to  take  care  of  this  branch 
of  the  Lord's  vine,  as  far  as  God  should  enable  them. 

"  The  members  of  the  church  were  also  required  and 
exhorted  to  acknowledge  them  as  men  in  authority  and 
to  subject  to  them  in  their  government  in  the  Lord." 

This  was  done  June  28,  1724.  Thus  began  the  elder- 
ship in  our  church,  in  which  so  many  faithful,  conse- 
crated men  have  served,  to  the  glory  of  God  and  edifica- 
tion and  well-being  of  the  church. 

With  the  election  of  a  session,  other  things  tending  to 
a  more  orderly  and  regular  observance  of  spiritual 
services  were  introduced;  the  weekly  Wednesday  even- 
ing prayer  meeting  was  instituted,  a  day  of  thanksgiv- 
ing was  observed,  religious  services  were  held,  and  an 
appropriate  sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor.  This 
day  of  thanksgiving  was  observed  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
very  much  as  our  national  Thanksgiving  Day  is  now 
observed.  In  1725,  a  small  basin,  two  platters,  and  a 
napkin  were  purchased;  probably  these  were  used  at 
the  communion  service;  this  service  has  disappeared; 
most  likely  it  was  lost  during  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. 

Mr.  Pumroy  died  June  30,  1744,  after  a  pastorate  of 
thirty-six  years;  he  was  buried  in  the  town  burial 
ground,  but  last  fall  the  trustees  of  the  church  had  his 
remains,  and  those  of  the  Rev.  Simon  Horton,  the  Rev. 
Peter  Fish,  Content  Titus,  the  first  ruling  elder  of  the 
church,  and  Philip  Duneveer  (who,  in  1745,  left  two 
hundred  pounds  sterling  to  the  church,  the  income  of 
which  was  to  be  used  for  the  poor  of  the  church  and  the 
minister's  salary),  removed  to  the  church-yard,  where 
they  now  rest  in  one  plot,  on  which  is  a  beautiful  bed 


30 

of  flowers.  In  this  way  we  seek  to  keep  in  mind  those 
who,  in  former  years,  have  been  pastors,  office  bearers, 
and  supporters  of  this  church. 

The  grave  of  Rev.  Mr.  Pumroy  is  marked  by  the 
stone  erected  to  his  memory  in  1744,  bearing  this  quaint 
epitaph : 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  ye  Revd. 
Mr.  Samuel  Pumroy  who  depd. 
This  life  the  30th  of  June,  1744, 
In  the  57th  year  of  his  age. 
Kind  earth  keep  safe  my  sleeping  dust 
Till  Christ  shall  raise  it  with  the  just; 
My  ministerial  work  is  done 
For  you,  dear  people  of  Newtown, 
Years  almost  thirty-six  I  try'd 
To  spouse  you  for  Christ  Jesus'  bride, 
If  you  do  still  refuse  to  hear. 
Gainst  you  at  last  I  must  appear, 
When  Christ  shall  come  to  raise  the  dead, 
And  call  me  from  this  gloomy  bed." 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Pumroy,  the  Rev.  George 
Macnish,  a  son  of  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Jamaica,  was  called  to  fill  the  pulpit;  he  remained  but 
two  years,  removing  to  Walkill,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in 
1779.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Simon  Horton. 
Mr.  Horton  came  from  a  prominent  family  at  the  east- 
ern end  of  Long  Island.  He  was  born  at  Southold, 
March  30,  171 1,  and  graduated  from  Yale  College  Jn 
1 73 1.  His  first  pastorate  was  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Connecticut  Farms,  N.  J.;  from  there  he 
came  to  Newtown  in  1746.  Mr.  Horton  was  thirty-five 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Newtown;  here  he  spent 
the  best  portion  of  his  life,  being  the  pastor  of  this 
church  for  twenty-six  years.     He  resigned  in  1773,  con- 


31 

tinuing  to  reside  in  Newtown  until  the  Revolution, 
when,  being  an  active  Whig,  and  strongly  espousing  the 
cause  of  the  Colonies,  he  was  forced  to  leave  Newtown 
while  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  British.  Returning  to 
Newtown  in  1783,  he  lived  with  Benjamin  Coe,  his  son- 
in-law,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  8,  1786. 
Mr.  Horton  was  a  man  of  great  piety,  learning,  and 
eloquence,  and  is  described  as  a  man  of  middle  size  and 
solemn  deportment. 

Mr.  Horton's  successor  was  the  Rev.  Andrew  Bay; 
he  is  first  heard  of  as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle.  He  was  settled  at  March  Creek,  Penn., 
and  at  Deer  Creek,  now  Churchill,  Md.  In  1768  he 
went,  at  the  request  of  Synod,  to  the  Scotch  settlements 
near  Albany,  N.  Y.;  he  remained  in  that  work  until 
called  to  Newtown  in  1773;  he  continued  as  pastor  of 
this  church  but  two  years,  and  died  at  the  parsonage, 
shortly  after  the  severance  of  the  pastoral  relationship 
by  the  Presbytery. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, when  Newtown  was  for  seven  years  in  the  hands  of 
the  British;  and  how,  at  the  close  of  that  period,  when 
the  people  returned,  there  were  but  five  of  the  members 
of  the  church  to  be  found;  these  were  Benjamin  Coe, 
Philip  Edsall  and  his  wife,  and  Benjamin  Cornish  and 
his  wife.  The  church  having  been  destroyed,  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  people  kindly  allowed  the  Presbyterians 
the  use  of  their  building  every  other  Sunday,  until  they 
could  erect  another  church  edifice;  this  they  began  to 
do  in  1787,  and  completed  in  1791,  at  a  cost  of  $3,950. 

The  same  year  that  the  building  was  completed 
(1791).  there  was  placed  in  the  belfry  a  bell  which,  for 
all  these  years,  has  called  the  people  to  the  house  of 
prayer.  It  has  on  it  the  name  of  the  maker,  and  the 
date  of  casting,  "  Gerit  Bakker,  Rotterdam  Ag.  1788." 
Also  on  one  side  are  these  words,  "  Sur  die  Evangelisch 


32 

Lutherische  Gemeinde  Sur  Elizabet  Staate,  Maryland, 
Noord  America."  This  bell  still  calls  our  people  to  the 
house  of  God,  and,  after  all  these  years  of  service,  is  as 
perfect  as  ever. 

The  church  was  legally  incorporated  in  1784,  under  a 
law  passed  April  6th  of  that  year,  entitled,  "  An  act  to 
enable  all  religious  denominations  in  this  State  to  ap- 
point trustees,  who  shall  be  a  body  corporate,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  care  of  the  temporalities  of  their 
respective  congregations,  and  for  other  purposes 
therein  mentioned."  On  May  4,  1784,  the  congrega- 
tion elected  the  first  board  of  trustees;  those  elected 
were  Capt.  Thomas  Lawrence,  William  Sackett,  Peter 
Alburtis,  William  Leverich,  and  Dr.  John  B.  Riker. 

The  first  minister  after  the  Revolution  was  the  Rev. 
James  Lyon,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  in  1759. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  in  1762.  In  December,  1764,  he  went  to 
Nova  Scotia,  where  he  preached  for  several  years;  in 
1 771  he  removed  to  Maine,  where,  in  1782,  he  was  the 
pastor  of  a  Congregational  church.  During  the  stormy 
period  of  the  Revolution  he  endured  great  hardships  by 
reason  of  the  suspension  of  the  lumber  industry  upon 
which  his  people  were  dependent.  It  is  said  that  he  was 
brought  to  a  place  of  actual  need  for  the  necessities  of 
life,  and  could  only  provide  for  his  family  by  gathering 
clams  from  the  near-by  bay. 

Mr.  Lyon  came  to  Newtown  in  1783  and  remained 
until  1785.  He  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  sincere  piety 
and  faithful  labors;  he  published  a  small  "  Manual  of 
Devotion,"  copies  of  which  are  still  preserved,  and  serve 
to  give  a  most  favorable  impression  of  his  piety  and 
talents. 

Following  Mr.  Lyon's  pastorate  came  that  of  the 
Rev.  Peter  Fish,  the  only  minister  of  this  church  who 
was  a  native  of  Newtown.     He  was  a  direct  descendant 


33 

of  Jonathan  Fish,  of  England,  who  came  to  Newtown  in 
1659.  Peter  Fish  was  the  son  of  Nathan  and  Jane  (Ber- 
rian)  Fish,  and  was  born  November  2^,  1751,  in  what 
was  recently  known  as  the  Lent  homestead,  on  the 
shore  of  Flushing  Bay;  this  house  was  torn  down  a  few 
years  ago,  but  is  well  remembered  by  the  older  residents 
of  the  town. 

Mr.  Fish  was  converted  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  under 
the  preaching  of  Whitefield,  who  preached  at  New- 
town some  time  during  the  year  1764,  when  the  Rev. 
Simon  Horton  was  pastor  of  the  church;  he  graduated 
from  Princeton  College  in  1774,  and  received  his  license 
to  preach  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  in  1779; 
he  became  stated  supply  of  this  church  October  20, 
1785;  his  desire  was  to  see  another  church  erected  on 
the  spot  where  the  old  one  had  stood;  in  that  edifice  his 
father  had  died  suddenly  while  attending  service,  March 
3,  1769;  then,  too,  his  uncle  had  given  the  land  on  which 
the  old  church  had  stood,  and  had  lived  and  died  in 
the  "  Corner  House  "  directly  opposite.  Under  these 
circumstances,  as  well  as  his  desire  for  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  people,  it  is  no  wonder  that  all  his  energies 
were  devoted  to  the  erection  of  a  new  church  building 
on  the  site  of  the  old  one.  Mr.  Fish  resigned  in  1788, 
before  the  completion  of  the  church,  and  removed  to 
Connecticut  Farms,  N.  J.  After  preaching  there  for 
ten  years,  he  preached  for  a  time  in  New  York  State, 
but,  being  in  poor  health,  he  retired  from  the  active 
ministry  and  purchased  a  home  in  Newtown.  After  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodhull,  in  1810,  Mr.  Fish,  at 
the  earnest  request  of  the  people  of  the  church,  agreed 
to  occupy  the  pulpit  for  a  time.  This  he  did  from  May, 
1 810,  until  his  death  in  November  of  that  year. 

The  same  year  in  which  Mr.  Fish  resigned  (1788)  the 
Rev.  Elihu  Palmer  became  pastor  of  the  church;  he 
remained  but  one  year.  After  his  resignation  in  1789, 
3 


34 

he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  soon  after  left  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  because  of  a  change  in  his  doctrinal 
views. 

The  coming  of  the  next  minister,  the  Rev.  Nathan 
Woodhull,  marks  a  new  period  in  the  history  of  the 
church ;  as  Dr.  Knox  said,  speaking  of  the  opening  days 
of  Mr.  Woodhull's  ministry,  "  We  now  enter  upon  the 
period  in  the  history  of  this  church  most  pleasing,  as 
showing  the  Lord's  favor  in  still  giving  to  it,  in  succes- 
sion, able  and  distinguished  ministers,  permanent  settle- 
ment, peace  and  prosperity,  and  continued  stability  and 
success." 

Mr.  Woodhull  was  the  son  of  Captain  Nathan  and 
Joanna  (Mills)  Woodhull,  and  was  born  at  Setauket, 
L.  I.,  April  28,  1756;  he  graduated  from  Yale  College, 
and  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Huntington,  L.  I.,  December  22,  1785.  He  came  to 
Newtown  in  February,  1790,  and  was  installed  Decem- 
ber I  St  of  that  year.  During  Mr.  Woodhull's  pastorate, 
the  church  building,  begun  in  1 787,  was  completed  and 
was  dedicated  December  21,  1791.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Rodgers,  of  New  York,  preached  the  sermon,  and  the 
day  was  observed  as  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving.  Mr. 
Woodhull  remained  pastor  of  this  church  for  twenty 
years,  dying  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  March  13, 
1810.  "  His  character  and  qualifications  as  a  divine 
were  of  a  high  order,  and  perhaps  no  man  was  ever  more 
popular  with  the  people  of  his  charge.  He  was  of  a 
very  amiable  disposition,  an  afifectionate  and  interesting 
preacher,  lived  universally  esteemed,  and  died  as  uni- 
versally regretted." 

His  bereaved  and  sorrowing  people  placed  a  hand- 
some stone  over  his  gra^e  in  the  church-yard,  on  which 
is  the  following :  "  Beneath  this  stone  are  deposited  the 
remains  of  the  Reverend  Nathan  Woodhull,  A.M.,  who 
departed  this  life,  March  13,  1810,  in  the  54th  year  of 


THE   SECOND   PARSONAGE — l8l  I 


THE    PARSONAGE — ERECTED    IN    1 822 


35 

his  age,  after  serving  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this 
place  as  an  able  and  faithful  pastor  for  near  twenty 
years.  His  bereaved  congregation,  sensible  of  the  value 
of  his  services  and  of  the  greatness  of  their  loss,  have 
erected  this  perishable  tablet  as  a  memorial  of  his  use- 
fulness, and  of  their  affection.  '  Blessed  are  the  dead 
which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth,  yea,  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them.'  " 

After  an  interval  of  six  months  the  church  secured  the 
services  of  the  Rev.  William  Boardman,  who  was  born 
at  WilHamstown,  Mass.,  October  12,  1781.  He  began 
his  work  at  Newtown  in  1810,  and  was  installed  October 
22,  181 1.  At  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate  a  great 
revival  broke  out,  resulting  from  the  faithful  sowing  of 
the  seed  by  his  predecessor,  as  well  as  from  his  own 
active  and  fervent  piety.  While  Mr.  Boardman  was 
pastor,  the  old  parsonage  and  farm  were  sold,  and  the 
"  Corner  House,"  with  eleven  acres  of  land,  w^as  pur- 
chased; this  continued  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage  until 
1822,  when  the  present  parsonage  was  erected  with 
funds  obtained  from  the  sale  of  the  "  Corner  House," 
and  part  of  the  land.  Mr.  Boardman  was  a  man  of 
fervent  piety,  and  his  people  were  much  attached  to  him; 
he  labored  faithfully  until  stricken  down  with  disease, 
and  died  March  4,  1818,  when  but  thirty-six  years  of 
age.  His  people,  as  a  mark  of  their  love  and  esteem, 
erected  a  stone  over  his  grave,  similar  to  the  one  over 
the  grave  of  Mr.  Woodhull;  the  inscription  on  this  stone 
gives  quite  a  sketch  of  his  life;  it  reads  as  follows: 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Reverend  William 
Boardman,  the  late  faithful  and  beloved  Pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Newtown,  L.  I.  He  was  born 
in  WilHamstown,  Mass.,  on  the  12th  day  of  October, 
A.D.,  1781;  ordained  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and 
installed  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Duansburg,  N.  Y., 


36 

1803;  installed  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  Newtown,  L.  L, 
on  the  22d  day  of  October,  a.d.,  181  i,  and  died  on  the 
4th  day  of  March,  a.d.,  1818,  while  pastor  of  the  New- 
town Church,  in  the  37th  year  of  his  age.  Graduated  at 
Williamstown  College,  March,  1802.  '  I  am  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life.'  " 

Mr.  Boardman's  remains,  with  this  stone,  were  re- 
moved to  Evergreen  Cemetery  some  years  ago. 

Mr.  Boardman  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  Gold- 
smith, D.D.,  of  sainted  memory,  whom  some  of  the  old- 
est inhabitants  of  the  town  still  remember  with  great 
affection.  Dr.  Goldsmith  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Goldsmith,  who,  for  forty-six  years,  was  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Riverhead,  L.  I.  He  was 
born  at  Lower  Aquebogue,  now  Jamesport,  L.  I.;  grad- 
uated from  Princeton  College  in  181 5;  in  1848  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  that  insti- 
tution. He  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church,  Novem- 
ber 17,  18 19,  and  remained  until  his  death,  April  6, 
1854.  Dr.  Goldsmith  was  president  of  the  Long  Island 
Bible  Society  from  1843  ^o  1853;  he  was  also  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
"  where  whatever  he  advocated  was  sure  to  prevail." 
From  the  very  first,  Dr.  Goldsmith  enjoyed  the  con- 
fidence and  affection  of  the  people,  and  not  only  of  his 
own  people,  but  of  the  entire  community.  This  con- 
fidence and  affection  he  enjoyed  increasingly  to  the  day 
of  his  death.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Knox,  his  immediate  suc- 
cessor, said  of  him :  "  For  his  stern  love  of  the  truth, 
dignified  and  imposing  manner,  intellectual  ability,  re- 
fined spirituality,  and  uncompromising  devotion  in  his 
ministerial  work,  he  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
brethren,  and  commanded  the  reverence  and  love  of 
his  people." 

During  his  ministry  two  hundred  and  fifteen  persons 
united  with  the  church.     Few  men  have  so  faithfully 


REV.  JOHN   GOLDSMITH,    D.D. 


37 

devoted  themselves  in  singleness  of  purpose  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  yet  testify  to 
his  faithfulness.  His  death  was  greatly  felt  by  those 
with  whom  he  was  associated  in  the  Presbyterian  min- 
istry, and  scarcely  less  so  by  those  of  other  denomina- 
tions of  this  town,  with  whom  he  was  harmoniously 
engaged  in  promoting  the  interests  of  Christ's  kingdom 
and  of  the  community.  On  the  day  of  his  funeral,  Sun- 
day, April  9,  1854,  all  the  other  churches  were  closed. 
Of  the  service.  Rev.  Dr.  John  D.  Wells,  of  Brooklyn, 
wrote :  "  There  was  an  immense  concourse  of  people. 
Rev.  E.  D.  G.  Prime,  D.D.,  read  the  scriptures  and 
prayed  at  the  house.  He  also  read  selections  of  script- 
ure at  the  church.  The  Rev.  W.  W.  PhiUps  prayed. 
The  Rev.  Gardiner  Spring,  D.D.,  preached  from  H. 
Cor.,  V.  I.  The  Rev.  John  W.  Krebs,  D.D.,  gave  a  bio- 
graphical sketch.  The  Rev.  D.  R.  Strong  read  a  hymn. 
The  services  were  of  an  instructive  and  solemn  char- 
acter." He  was  buried  just  at  the  door  of  the  church 
he  had  served  so  long  and  faithfully,  and  a  monument 
with  this  inscription  marks  his  last  resting  place :  "  The 
Rev.  John  Goldsmith,  D.D.  Born  April  10,  1794;  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newtown, 
November  17,  1819.  Died  April  6,  1854.  After  a 
faithful  ministry  of  more  than  thirty-five  years,  his  lov- 
ing co-presbyters  laid  his  body  here  among  the  people 
for  whom  he  labored,  and  over  it  his  congregation  have 
erected  this  memorial  of  their  reverence  and  affection 
for  a  man  of  God." 

The  Rev.  John  P.  Knox,  LL.D.,  succeeded  Dr.  Gold- 
smith ;  he  was  installed  March  28,  1855.  Dr.  Knox  was 
born  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  July  26,  181 1.  He  was  educated 
at  Rutgers  College  and  Seminary;  from  1837  to  1841  he 
was  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Nassau,  N.  P. ; 
the  next  ten  years  he  spent  in  the  island  of  St.  Thomas 
in  the  West  Indies,  as  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church. 


38 

While  at  St.  Thomas  he  wrote  a  vakiable  history  of  that 
island,  and,  to  some  extent,  of  the  adjacent  isles.  Be- 
sides his  ministerial  work,  he  entered  heartily  into  the 
cause  of  education.  Among  the  pupils  he  was  instru- 
mental in  developing,  and  fitting  for  the  duties  of  life, 
was  a  native  colored  boy,  Edward  Blyden,  afterward 
president  of  Moravian  College  in  the  Republic  of 
Liberia,  Africa,  who  has  also  represented  that  country 
at  the  court  of  St.  James. 

Some  years  before  his  death.  Dr.  Knox  travelled  ex- 
tensively in  Europe,  and  on  his  return  gave  a  series  of 
lectures  that  were  very  interesting;  at  the  close  of  the 
last  lecture  he  was  publicly  congratulated  and  thanked 
by  the  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Cox,  D.D.,  then  rector  of  St. 
James  Episcopal  church,  this  village,  for  the  instruction 
and  entertainment  given  the  people.  Dr.  Knox  de- 
voted one  Sunday  evening  service  a  month  to  a  question 
meeting:  questions  previously  sent  to  him  were  pub- 
licly answered  at  that  service;  all  questions  were  of  a 
religious  or  scriptural  nature;  this  was  done  to  en- 
lighten and  instruct  the  people  in  scripture  truth  and 
knowledge.  These  services,  together  with  a  monthly 
praise  service,  made  the  church  very  popular  and  drew 
large  audiences. 

Under  Dr.  Knox's  ministry  the  church  greatly  in- 
creased in  power  and  influence.  To  the  109  communi- 
cants that  constituted  the  membership  when  he  became 
pastor  of  the  church,  139  were  added  in  twenty-five 
years.  During  Dr.  Knox's  pastorate  the  old  church 
was  remodelled;  the  old  square  back  pews  were  taken 
out;  the  old-fashioned  windows,  with  their  small  panes 
of  glass,  were  replaced  by  colored  glass;  the  interior  lost 
much  of  its  old-fashioned  appearance,  while  the  exterior 
remains  much  the  same  as  it  was  one  hundred  years  ago. 
On  the  celebration  of  Dr.  Knox's  twenty-fifth  anniver- 
sary as  pastor,  a  pipe  organ  was  placed  in  the  church. 


REV.    GEORGE   H.    PAYSON,    D.D. 


39 

After  a  pastorate  of  twenty-seven  years,  Dr.  Knox  died 
June  2,  1882.  His  was  a  singularly  pure  life,  and  he  is 
remembered  as  a  just  and  good  man;  and  though 
twenty  years  have  passed  since  he  fell  asleep,  he  is  still 
held  in  honor  by  many  in  our  community  who  knew  and 
loved  him;  he  is  indeed  remembered  for  his  piety  and 
labor  of  love  among  this  people,  and  in  this  church. 

At  Somerville,  N.  J.,  where  he  is  buried,  a  monument 
with  this  inscription  marks  his  grave : 

Rev.  John  P.  Knox,  LL.D., 
Born  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  July  26th,  181 1. 
Passed  to  Glory,  June  2d,  1882,  at  Newtown 
Long  Island,  N.  Y.     Together  with  Christ." 
Our  Father 
Clear  in  Judgment  .  • 

Firm  in  Principle 
Earnest  for  the  Truth 
Faithful  unto  Death 
An  Honored  Father 
A  Pastor  Beloved. 

The  Rev.  George  H.  Payson,  D.D.,  the  next  pastor, 
was  installed  in  October,  1882,  resigning  in  1889  to  ac- 
cept a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Rah- 
way,  N.  J.,  where  he  still  remains. 

The  Rev.  Jacob  E.  Mallmann  succeeded  Dr.  Payson, 
and  was  installed  May  5,  1890.  He  resigned  in 
October,  1895,  and  soon  afterward  accepted  a  call  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Shelter  Island,  N.  Y.,  of  which 
he  is  still  pastor. 

The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  William  H.  Hendrick- 
son,  was  installed  June  22.,  1896. 

There  have  been  those  who  have  gone  forth  from  this 
to  other  places  who  have  been  worthy  citizens,  carrying 
with  them  the  same  stern  love  for  justice  and  desire  for 


40 

the  spread  of  the  Gospel  that  has  always  characterized 
the  people  of  this  church.  "  The  town  of  Hopewell,  in 
New  Jersey,  was  settled  in  1700  by  immigrants  from 
Long  Island,  of  whom  twenty  came  from  Newtown;  and 
the  flourishing  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  neighbor- 
hood were,  in  part,  founded  by  these  immigrants." 
"  Many  of  the  families  of  Newtown  had  their  represent- 
atives in  years  past,  and  still  have  their  representatives, 
among  the  leading  families  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
who  are  prominent  in  various  professions;  some  of  our 
family  names  enter  conspicuously  into  the  history  of 
the  State  and  nation."  From  the  membership  of  this 
church  three  ministers  of  the  Gospel  have  gone  forth 
to  labor  for  Christ. 

The  members  of  the  church  have  been  helpful  in  the 
organization  of  other  churches.  The  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Astoria,  L.  I.,  organized  in  1846,  was  greatly 
assisted  by  Dr.  Goldsmith,  who  frequently  preached 
there  previous  to  its  organization  and  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice. 

The  Union  Evangelical  Church,  of  Corona,  L.  L,  was 
erected  and  founded  by  a  member  of  this  congregation, 
and,  at  its  organization,  a  number  of  the  members  of 
this  church  identified  themselves  with  it,  among  the 
number,  one  who  was  at  that  time  an  active  trustee. 

The  Colored  Church  on  Union  Avenue,  long  known 
as  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Newtown,  was 
organized  for  the  colored  people  who  were  members  of 
this  church;  the  building  still  stands,  but  no  service  has 
been  held  in  it  for  years.  The  church  now  has  a  mem- 
bership of  169;  its  contributions  for  the  last  fiscal 
year,  for  its  own  expenses,  were  $3,137;  to  benevolent 
objects  we  gave  $1,297.  Our  Sunday-school  numbers, 
including  Home  Department  and  Cradle  Roll,  432. 
There  is  also  in  connection  with  the  church  a  Women's 
Missionary  Society,  a  Young  Ladies'  Auxiliary,  and  a 
Christian  Endeavor  Society. 


41 

These  are  some  of  the  facts  concerning  the  history  of 
this  church.  Very  much  more  might  be  written  re- 
garding the  past  of  this  historic  church,  but  enough  has 
been  said  to  show  how  God  was  with  our  fathers,  how 
He  has  watched  over  and  guided  the  church;  how, 
through  much  of  difficulty  in  its  early  history,  God  fin- 
ally established  and  made  it  a  factor  for  good  in  the 
community  all  these  years.  We  may  not  know,  we 
cannot  tell,  what  good  has  been  done;  eternity  alone 
will  reveal  it.  Some  day  we  shall  know  how  many  have 
here  learned  of,  and  received  Jesus  Christ  as  their 
Saviour.  Some  day  we  shall  know  how  many  weary 
souls  have  found  rest,  how  many  burdened  hearts  have 
found  relief,  how  many  prayers  have  been  answered. 
Aye,  some  day;  that  day  when  "  the  books  are  opened," 
we  shall  know  the  struggles,  and  the  triumphs,  of  those 
who  labored  here,  and,  together  with  them,  rejoice  in 
the  final  triumph  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  "  whose  we 
are,  and  whom  we  serve." 


Sermon 


250tb  Jlnnluersary 

of  fbe 

First  Presbyterian  eburcb 

of  newtown,  Cotid  Island 
new  Vork 

October  26tb,  1902 

Delivered  by  Kev.  Olilliam  H,  Ifendrickson,  Pastor 


Cext 
Hcts  XXVIII— 15 

'Be  thanked  6od,  and  took  couraae" 


Sermon 

We  speak  of  this  service  as  a  Historic  Service,  but  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  a  history  of  the  church  has 
been  written,  and  is  now,  with  this  sermon,  in  the  hands 
of  the  printer,  so  that  we  cannot  dwell  as  fully  as  we 
would  upon  the  past  history  of  the  church,  for  it  would 
simply  mean  repetition  in  the  book  that  is  being 
published. 

This  much,  however,  we  can  say :  We  look  back  on  a 
wonderful  record.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  con- 
tinuous service;  years  that  speak  of  God's  faithfulness 
and  man's  loyalty. 

As  we  recall  the  past,  as  we  think  of  what  God  has 
been  to  our  fathers,  as  we  think  of  their  faith  in,  and 
loyalty  to  Him,  we  cannot  but  say,  gratitude  to  God. 
and  courage  for  life  duties,  should  characterize  every 
life. 

The  Apostle  Paul,  a  prisoner  on  his  way  to  Rome,  was 
greatly  cheered  and  helped  by  the  fellowship  of  the 
brethren  who  came  out  to  meet  him.  "  He  thanked 
God  and  took  courage."  Our  gratitude  to  God  ought 
to  be  materially  increased  as  to-day  we  look  back  over 
the  past  history  of  this  church,  and  recall  His  goodness. 
We,  too,  should  take  courage  as  we  look  forward,  "  for 
this  God  is  our  God,  forever  and  ever." 

We  are  standing  at  a  point  of  great  interest  to-day,  a 
place  from  which  we  cannot  but  look  back,  and  notice 
the  leadings  of  God,  in  connection  with  this  beloved 
church. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  have  passed  since  the 
sturdy  New  Englanders  came  to  this  place. 

That  they  were  men  of  God,  that  their  thought  was  of 


46 

religious  liberty,  as  well  as  of  a  home  in  some  fertile 
spot,  is  proven  by  the  fact  that  they  began  regular 
religious  services  at  once. 

With  the  building  of  their  own  homes,  with  the  pro- 
viding of  a  place  of  shelter  for  their  families,  came  the 
building  of  a  suitable  place  for  public  gatherings,  the 
most  important  of  which,  in  their  minds,  was  the  gather- 
ing for  the  public  worship  of  God. 

It  is  fitting  that  we  look  back  to  those  early  times 
with  some  feelings  of  pride,  for  those  were  worthy  men 
that  came  to  this  place;  men  of  honor;  men  who  be- 
Heved  in  the  Golden  Rule,  as  is  shown  by  their  dealings 
with  the  rightful  owners  of  the  soil — the  Indians. 

Too  often,  alas,  have  the  people  of  our  country  for- 
gotten, trodden  upon,  and  by  force  taken  from  the 
original  Americans  that  which  was  rightfully  their  own. 

Our  fathers  had  in  mind,  not  only  their  own  temporal 
w^elfare,  but  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Indian  as  well. 
They  came  here,  not  simply  to  possess  the  land  for 
themselves  and  their  children,  but  to  possess  the  Indian 
for  Christ;  that  there  were  misunderstandings  between 
them  is  true;  that  the  Indians  did  not  always  put  faith 
in  their  white  brethren  is  likewise  true;  that  sometimes 
the  settlers  were  annoyed  by  thieving  Indians  is  a 
matter  of  record,  but  not  once,  in  the  entire  history  of 
the  town,  is  it  recorded  that  the  settlers  turned,  and 
warred  against  them  with  a  view  of  exterminating  or 
banishing  them  from  their  rightful  place  and  posses- 
sions. 

Our  fathers  were  stern,  stalwart  men,  men  who  in- 
sisted that  "  right  was  right,"  men  who  resisted  wrong 
by  protest,  and,  when  occasion  demanded,  with  their 
lives ;  but  they  were  not  of  the  class  that  took  advantage 
of  others,  oppressing  the  weak,  or  driving  out  the  right- 
ful owners  of  the  land,  to  which  they,  in  the  Providence 
of  God,  had  come. 


47 

That  God  was  with  those  men  whom  we  speak  of  as 
the  makers  of  history  no  one  can  doubt;  that  God 
guided  their  ways  there  is  abundant  proof. 

Theirs  was  a  Hfe  of  hardship;  Httle  do  we  understand 
in  the  midst  of  present-day  luxury  the  hardships  they 
endured.  They  came  to  a  place  of  primitive  forests; 
they  selected  a  spot  where  there  was  abundance  of  nat- 
ural meadow;  they  could  not,  as  we  do,  move  their 
household  goods  from  place  to  place  in  a  covered  van; 
ox  teams  and  rude  wagons  were  all  they  had;  they  were 
not  burdened  with  the  quantity  of  goods  the  modern 
housekeeper  possesses;  they  did  not  come  from  homes 
of  luxury  to  still  fairer  and  finer  ones,  but  from  their 
log  cabins  in  New  England  to  no  house  at  all  in  New- 
town. They  came  among  people  of  different  language 
and  customs  who  might  possibly  be  hostile  to  them; 
they  came  to  standing  trees  which  must  be  turned  into 
lumber  for  houses.  And  yet,  with  courage  born  of  faith 
in  God,  and  joy  at  the  thought  of  having  religious 
liberty,  they  went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  soon  their 
labors  were  rewarded  as  regards  ownership  and  occupa- 
tion of  their  own  homes.  "  And  the  rich  virgin  soil 
yielded  them,  in  the  summer  of  1652,  an  abundant  har- 
vest as  a  result  of  seed  sown  in  the  spring  time." 

Nothing  worth  having  is  gained  without  toil,  hard, 
honest  toil;  and  we  are  not  to  suppose  that  the  early  his- 
tory of  this  town  is  merely  the  story  of  ease  and  com- 
fort. Quite  the  contrary  is  true;  those  early  days  were 
days  of  toil,  of  hardship,  of  struggles  against  poverty, 
of  fear  of  the  aborigines,  of  efforts  to  get  the  author- 
ities to  enact  just  and  proper  laws,  and  at  last  of  dark- 
ness and  almost  despair,  when  during  the  dark  days  of 
the  Revolution,  most  of  the  people  were  forced  to  flee 
from  their  homes,  because  the  enemy  was  in  possession 
of  the  town. 

Thank  God  our  fathers  were  men  of  courage,  as  well 


48 

as  men  of  right  convictions,  and  were  found  on  the  right 
side  in  that  great  struggle  for  American  Independence, 
to  which  not  only  our  own  people,  but  the  nations  of  the 
earth  owe  so  much. 

Through  all  these  trying  times  our  fathers  were  sus- 
tained and  cheered  by  the  knowledge  that  God  was  with 
them,  and  right  must  prevail.  God  give  us  such  men 
to-day,  men  of  faith,  men  of  courage,  men  that  will 
stand  for  right,  because  it  is  right,  men  that  will  let  God 
work  in,  through,  and  by  them,  for  His  own  glory,  the 
salvation  of  men,  and  the  betterment  of  the  world. 

But  let  us  turn  from  this  thought  to  that  of  the 
church  itself,  the  church  of  our  choice  and  love;  here, 
too,  as  we  trace  the  story  of  its  beginning,  its  struggles 
for  existence,  and  its  final  establishment,  do  we  see 
God's  loving  care  and  power  manifested;  reverently  we 
pause,  thank  God,  and  say,  "  Behold  what  God  hath 
wrought," 

From  the  very  first  the  people  of  Newtown  have  sus- 
tained religious  service.  There  has  been  no  failure  to 
provide  a  place  of  worship;  first  it  was  the  Town  House, 
then  a  church  edifice,  and  at  the  present  time  we  possess 
the  fourth  church  building. 

One  thing  can  be  said  to  the  credit  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Newtown :  they  believed  in  the  complete 
separation  of  Church  and  State;  they  protested  against 
being  forced  to  pay  the  salary  of  a  minister  with  whose 
teachings  they  did  not  agree,  and  whose  language  they 
did  not  understand.  Of  this  the  Newtown  Register 
well  said,  in  a  recent  editorial: 

"  The  celebration  of  the  250th  anniversary  of  the 
establishment  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Newtown 
is  so  memorable  and  so  historically  important  that  the 
Society  which  will  observe  it  is  too  small  a  part  of  the 
community  to  commemorate  the  event.  That  which 
most  distinguishes  the  United  States  from  all  other 


49 

countries  is  the  absolute  separation  of  Church  and  State, 
and  the  complete  independence  of  the  one  from  any 
authority  or  control  by  the  other.  This  point  was 
clearly  and  strongly  set  forth  by  Secretary  Root  in  his 
able  letter  of  instructions  to  Governor  Taft  on  his  mis- 
sion to  the  Vatican.  But  in  framing  these  instructions 
the  Secretary  of  War  merely  voiced  current  American 
sentiment  and  can  claim  credit  for  the  form  in  which  the 
idea  was  expressed  and  not  for  the  idea  itself.  One  of 
the  earliest,  perhaps  the  very  earHest  promulgations  of 
the  great  idea  of  religious  liberty  was  made  by  the 
people  of  Newtown  soon  after  its  settlement.  Those 
bold  pioneers  and  sturdy  freemen  objected  to  paying 
the  salary  of  a  minister  with  whose  teachings  they  did 
not  agree  and  whose  language  they  did  not  understand. 
This  contention  on  their  part  was  accepted  and  from 
that  time  forward  the  minister's  salary  was  paid  by  vol- 
untary contributions  from  the  members  of  his  church. 
There  was  thus  established  at  that  early  period  the 
settled  principle  that  religious  societies  should  be  main- 
tained by  those  who  belonged  to  them  and  not  by  a  gen- 
eral tax  upon  the  whole  community.  This  is  genuine 
American  doctrine,  and  to  Newtown  thus  belongs  the 
honor  of  what  may  be  regarded  as  the  earliest  declara- 
tion of  independence  put  forth  on  this  side  of  the  At- 
lantic and  formally  acknowledged  as  soon  as  put  forth. 
The  250th  anniversary  of  a  church  so  founded  should  be 
observed  by  all  the  people  of  the  old  town  now  forming 
the  Second  Ward  of  Queens  Borough.  Its  history  is 
based  upon  a  doctrine  now  accepted  by  all  classes  and 
creeds.  It  is  seldom  that  an  anniversary  which  strictly 
speaking,  is  purely  local  in  its  character,  thanscends  the 
narrow  bounds  of  a  neighborhood  and  rises  to  the  lofty 
dignity  of  a  State  or  even  national  event.  It  may  truly 
be  said  that  no  American  incident  in  the  seventeenth 
century  so  well  deserves  remembrance  by  posterity  as 
4 


50 

this  early  colonial  recognition  of  the  principle  of 
religious  liberty  by  the  Presbyterian  freemen  of  New- 
town." 

It  was  difficult,  in  the  early  days,  to  secure  ministers, 
and  there  were  long  intervals  between  pastorates,  but 
this  was  not  considered  sufficient  cause  for  neglect  of 
the  house  of  God;  and  there  always  arose  a  cry,  ex- 
pressed in  resolutions  at  pubhc  town  meetings:  We 
want  one  in  our  midst  who  will  preach  to  us  the  word  of 
truth,  and  instruct  us  in  the  way  of  righteousness. 

It  was  difficult  at  times  to  pay  the  salary  of  the  men 
of  God  who  ministered  to  this  church,  but  there  was 
never  a  thought  of  closing  the  church,  or  abandoning 
the  services. 

The  building  of  a  church  in  those  days  was  no  small 
matter;  it  meant  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  every  one  con- 
nected with  it.  It  meant  work,  too;  it  was  not  merely 
the  giving  of  money  to  pay  others  to  do  the  work,  but 
every  man  was  expected  to  work.  In  1 787-1 791,  when 
this  church  in  which  we  now  meet  was  being  erected,  it 
is  a  matter  of  record,  that  one  man  was  fined  a  certain 
sum  of  money  because  he  would  not  do  his  share  of  the 
work. 

What  a  splendid  thing  it  would  be  in  these  days  if 
authority  were  given  those  who  rule  in  the  church,  to 
fine  those  who  would  not  do  their  share  of  the  work  of 
the  church;  the  church  would  either  have  a  large  sur- 
plus in  its  treasury,  or  be  a  live,  active  body.  Why  not 
realize  that  the  Holy  Ghost  in  us  can  make  us  "  dead 
indeed  unto  sin,  but  aHve  unto  God  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ." 

It  is  fitting  that  we  think  for  a  moment  of  those  men 
of  God,  who  have  Hved  among  the  people  of  this  place, 
who  labored  in  the  Gospel,  declaring  the  word  of  Hfe, 
and  who  led  the  people  heavenward,  as  well  as  being 
their  advisers  in  all  things  relating  to  their  temporal 
welfare. 


THE   OLD   CHURCH 


51 

Let  us  call  the  roll  of  honor,  the  great  lights:  John 
Moore,  Wm.  Leverich,  Samuel  Pumroy,  Simon  Horton, 
Peter  Fish,  Nathan  Woodhull,  William  Boardman,  John 
Goldsmith,  John  P.  Knox ;  of  those  lesser  lights,  yet  men 
of  like  faith  and  usefulness  through  shorter  pastorates: 
John  Morse,  Robert  Breck,  George  McNish,  Andrew 
Bay,  James  Lyons,  Elihu  Palmer;  of  those  men  of  God 
who  have  lived  and  labored  here,  and  now  occupy  places 
of  honor  and  usefulness  elsewhere :  Geo.  H.  Payson  and 
Jacob  E.  Mallmann,  of  whom  I  need  say  nothing,  for 
they  will  both  be  here  during  this  celebration,  and  will 
speak  for  themselves. 

Each  of  these  have,  in  their  time,  been  used  of  God 
for  the  building  up  of  the  saints  in  their  most  holy 
faith,  and  the  winning  of  souls  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
each  has  contributed  his  share  to  the  success  of  the  work 
of  the  Lord  in  this  place,  each  has  left  his  impress  upon 
the  community.  The  descendants  of  some  of  these  men 
are  still  among  us,  connected  with  this,  or  other 
churches,  useful  citizens  and  honored  members  of 
society. 

All  these  years  God  has  watched  over  and  guided  the 
church;  it  has  been  the  religious  home  of  many  genera- 
tions. Here  parents  and  children  have  sat  together  to 
hear  and  learn  of  Christ,  the  Saviour  of  men.  Here,  in 
the  Sunday-school  connected  with  the  church,  the  chil- 
dren and  youth  have  been  taught  the  truths  of  the  Bible, 
and  instructed  in  the  things  of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 
Here  many  have  publicly  confessed  Christ,  and  become 
actively  identified  with  His  church,  as  members;  here 
parents  have  dedicated  their  children  to  God  and  sol- 
emnly promised  to  train  them  for  Him.  Here  have 
been  borne  the  silent  forms  of  our  beloved  dead,  and  we 
have  sorrowfully  bid  them  good-night,  with  the  full 
assurance  of  meeting  them  in  the  morning — "  some 
glad  day,  by  and  by." 


52 

All  this,  and  much  more  makes  the  church  very 
precious  to  us. 

When  we  think  of  those  who  have  lived,  who  have 
labored  in  and  for  it;  those  who  have  gone  on  to  be  with 
Christ,  we  cannot  but  thank  God  for  those  men  and 
women  of  faith,  for  what  they  were,  for  what  they  have 
done,  for  what  they  have  left  of  blessed  memory;  truly, 
"  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  hence- 
forth; yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from 
their  labors,  for  their  works  do  follow  them." 

But  we  are  not  to  rest  on  the  past  altogether,  glori- 
ous as  has  been  the  past  history  of  this  church;  much  as 
it  has  received  of  the  blessing  of  God ;  honored  as  it  has 
been  of  Him,  it  will  not  do  for  us  simply  to  rejoice  in  the 
past;  rather  ought  we  to  "  thank  God  and  take  cour- 
age ";  rather  ought  we  to  hear  the  word  of  God,  "  There 
remaineth  yet  very  much  land  to  be  possessed,"  and 
apply  it  to  present  conditions,  and  our  own  lives  and 
service. 

The  fact  is,  we  are  facing  new  conditions;  the  people, 
of  to-day  are  not,  as  a  rule,  church-going  people,  as 
were  our  fathers  in  the  early  days  of  the  church  in  this 
place;  the  Sabbath  day  is  not  observed  as  it  used  to  be, 
and  as  God  demands  it  shall  be.  If  the  church  of  to-day 
is  to  Hve,  if  it  is  to  do  the  work  the  Lord  expects  of  it, 
it  must  not  rest  content  because  it  is  a  historic  church, 
a  church  with  a  wonderful  past,  but  it  must  be  alive  to 
its  present  responsibility  and  opportunities;  it  must  be 
alive  to  God,  and  separate  from  the  world;  it  must  be 
filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost ;  it  must  enter  into  the  desire 
of  its  Lord ;  it  must  be  obedient  to  His  commands. 

The  problems  that  confront  the  church  are  so  well 
known  and  have  been  so  freely  and  fully  discussed,  that 
there  seems  little  need  of  dwelling  on  them  at  this  time; 
but  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  notice  and  speak  of  some 
things  that  are  vital  and  important. 


53 

The  church  that  meets  the  requirements  of  God,  and 
which  will  be  of  influence  in  the  community,  and  world, 
is  the  church  that  holds  "  the  whole  counsel  of  God  "; 
that  realizes  man  is  alienated  from  God  by  reason  of 
wicked  works,  that  declares  to  all  men  the  teaching  of 
Christ  to  Nicodemus,  "  Ye  must  be  born  again." 

It  will  be  the  church  that  co-operates  with  Christ  in 
the  matter  of  service.  "  We  are  workers  together  with 
Him."  Not  merely  having  Christ  as  an  example,  not 
simply  that  men  are  to  work  to  prove  their  faith,  but  as 
a  result  of  faith  in  Christ,  permit  Him,  by  His  Holy 
Spirit  to  work  in,  through,  and  by  them,  "  to  will  and  to 
do  of  His  own  good  pleasure." 

It  will  be  the  church  that  is  fully  and  thoroughly  con- 
secrated to  God,  that  is  free  from  the  world  and  the 
things  of  the  world,  that  will  realize  it  was  not  organized 
to  be  a  place  of  amusement,  or  to  furnish  entertainment 
for  the  world,  but  to  show  men  their  need  of  Christ,  to 
so  let  its  Hght  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  be 
turned  to  Christ. 

It  will  be  the  church  that  is  filled  with,  and  led  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  in  all  things,  that  acknowledges  the  owner- 
ship of  Christ  and  brings  forth  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit. 

It  will  be  the  church  that  depends  more  on  God  than 
on  its  attractive  edifice,  its  eloquent  preacher,  its  his- 
toric ritual,  its  charming  music;  that  believes  more  in 
the  power  of  God  in  answer  to  prayer,  than  in  its  own 
efforts  self-directed. 

It  will  be  the  church  that  hears  the  cry  of  the  lost; 
that  looks  upon  the  world  as  actually  lost;  that  realizes 
the  need  of  the  world  to  be  the  knowledge  of  Christ  and 
His  saving  power;  that  hears  and  heeds  the  Saviour's 
command,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature."  We  deplore  the  worldliness 
in  the  church;  we  are  grieved  by  the  indifference  that 
manifests   itself   everywhere ;   we   pray   God   that   the 


54 

church  may  see,  and  seize  upon  the  opportunity  to 
speedily  proclaim  the  Gospel  "  to  the  uttermost  ends  of 
the  earth." 

This  is  no  time  for  idleness;  our  Lord  has  said,  "  Lo, 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  to  the  end  of  the  age  ";  the 
open  doors  on  every  hand  appeal  to  us ;  the  oft-repeated 
Macedonian  cry,  "  Come  over  and  help  us,"  still  sounds 
in  our  ears.  Modern  modes  of  travel  make  every  part  of 
the  world  easy  of  access ;  truly  the  world  might  be  evan- 
gelized in  a  decade  if  only  Christians  would  consecrate 
their  possessions  to,  and  use  them  for  God.  A  host  of 
consecrated  men  and  women  stand  ready  to  go  to  every 
quarter  of  the  earth,  with  the  light  of  the  Gospel,  if  they 
can  only  be  assured  of  sympathy,  prayer  and  support  on 
the  part  of  the  church  at  home. 

The  church  of  Christ  must  never  permit  itself  to  be- 
come discouraged.  God  is,  and  God  is  all  powerful; 
there  may  be,  there  are,  discouragements,  but  we  are  to 
take  courage.  Take  courage,  because  there  is  a  revival 
of  interest  in  the  study  of  the  Word  of  God.  We  are 
reading  a  great  deal  about  what  men  say  of  the  Bible, 
but  we  are  living  in  a  day  of  real  searching  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. 

Take  courage,  because  there  is  a  recognition  on  the 
part  of  God's  people  that  He  requires  of  them  "  holy 
living,"  that  the  people  of  God  are  not  to  be  merely 
hearers  of  the  Word,  but  doers  also. 

Take  courage,  because  of  the  increased  and  growing 
conviction  that  we  are  brethren,  evidenced  by  the  ceas- 
ing to  emphasize  the  non-essential  differences  that  exist 
among  the  various  denominations,  and  the  joining  of 
faith  and  forces  for  the  bringing  of  men  to  Christ. 

Take  courage,  because  of  the  greater  realization  of 
the  church's  dependence  on  God,  and  the  united  prayers 
of  His  people  for  the  speedy  bringing  about  of  the  de- 
sire of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  taught  to  the  disciples 


55 

in  the  prayer  commonly  called  "  the  Lord's  Prayer," 
"  Thy  kingdom  come,  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it 
is  in  heaven." 

Take  courage,  because  "  the  Lord  thy  God  in  the 
midst  of  thee  is  mighty."  He  hath  promised  and  He 
will  perform.  "  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee."  It  may  seem  that  His  promises  will  never  be  ful- 
filled, but  "  the  Lord  is  not  slack  concerning  His  prom- 
ise, as  some  men  count  slackness." 

Let  us  not,  however,  be  deceived  by  the  commonly 
accepted  idea,  that  because  there  is  so  much  being  done 
for  the  world  in  the  way  of  charity  and  education,  help- 
ing men  to  help  themselves,  that  the  world  thereby  is 
to  be  brought  to  that  state  of  perfection  God  desires 
and  intends. 

God  forbid  that  anyone  should  cast  discredit  on  the 
men  and  women  who  have  come  to  the  relief  of  their 
fellow  men  so  nobly.  God  forbid  that  we  should  think 
of  the  rich  man  as  a  dishonest  man,  or  impute  wrong 
motives  to  his  kindly  acts  and  generosity ;  but  God  for- 
bid, also,  that  we  should  fall  in  the  common  error,  that 
greater  is  the  man  who  gives  his  possessions  to  relieve 
or  educate  his  fellow  men,  more  useful  are  his  acts 
in  the  lifting  up  of  the  world,  than  the  knowledge  of  the 
"  Man  of  Galilee,"  and  the  possession  of  His  love  and 
Spirit  in  human  heart  and  life.  Let  us  thank  God  for 
every  loving  impulse,  for  every  kindly  deed,  for  any- 
thing and  everything  that  adds  to  the  good  cheer  of  this 
old  world,  and  the  life  of  its  people,  but,  let  us  under- 
stand that  what  the  world  and  its  people  need  more 
than  anything  else,  is  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  the 
possession  of  that  salvation  purchased  by  Him  "  Who 
bore  our  sins  in  His  own  body  to  the  tree,  and  by  whose 
stripes  we  are  healed." 

Let  us  again  thank  God  for  the  past,  for  the  faith  of 
our  fathers,  for  the  triumphs  of  the  Gospel,  for  the 


56 

church  of  the  living  God,  for  the  blessings  now  enjoyed 
by  the  church,  for  the  privilege  of  its  services,  for  its 
weekly  meeting  for  prayer,  which  has  been  held  reg- 
ularly for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  for  the  knowledge 
that  ultimately  Christ  and  the  church  will  prevail,  and 
"  righteousness  will  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters  cover 
the  sea,"  for  the  knowledge  that  Christ  will  come  again, 
and  "  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  will  become  the  king- 
doms of  our  Lord,  and  of  His  Christ." 

Looking  back  over  these  years  of  victory  in  spite  of 
trial  and  opposition,  and  looking  forward  to  greater  vic- 
tory for,  and  the  final  triumph  of  the  church  of  Christ, 
we  exultingly  say: — 

"  Dear  dying  Lamb,  thy  precious  blood 
Shall  never  lose  its  power. 
Till  all  the  ransomed  Church  of  God 
Be  saved,  to  sin  no  more." 


Officers  and  Ceacbers  of  tbe 
Sunday  Scbool,  1902 


JOHN  H.  PRALL 

Superintendent 

JAS.  L.  M.  HATHAWAY 

Secretary  and  Treasurer 

THOS.  L.  PROCTOR 

Librarian 

Ceacbers 

Miss  E.  AUGUSTA  COX 

Mr.  T.  E.  HARDGROVE 

Miss  MAY  N.  HARDGROVE 

Rev.WM.  H.  HENDRICKSON 

Miss  MATILDA  R.  JEBENS 

Mr.  WM.  H.  JEBENS 

Miss  ALLETTA  K.  LAWRENCE 

Mrs.  GEO.  L.  MARSHALL 

Miss  CORNELIA  MAN  WARING 

Mr.  GEO.  L.  MARSHALL 

Miss  PHEBE  MORGAN 

Mr.  J.  WM.  MORGAN 

Miss  MARGARET  J.  NELSON 

Mr.  JOHN  G.  PRALL 

Mr.  EUGENE  S.  PRICE 

Miss  MARGARET  J.  SMITH 

Miss  M.  GRACE  SHILSON 

Miss  CHARLOTTE  B.  SCHEPER 

Mr.  F.  DeHASS  SIMONSON 

Mr.  R.  H.  sellers 

Miss  ANNIE  C.  SMILEY 

Miss  SUSIE  P.  TAYLOR 

Mrs.  R.  H.  WAY 

Mrs.  EUGENE  S.  PRICE 

Miss  JESSIE  M.  WRIGHT 


Societies  in  £;otinectioti  witb  tbe 
gburcb 


Uloman's  l>ome 
and  Toreidti  missionary  Society 

Officers 

President,    -     -    Mrs.  JOHN  H.  PRALL 

Vice-Presidents,  \  Mrs.WM.  H.  HENDRICKSON 
1  Mrs.  MARY  A.  ODEKIRK 

Secretary,    -     -    Mrs.  F.  H.  MEAD 

Treasurer,      -       Mrs.  G.  HAFLINGER 


Managers, 


Mrs.  M.  INGLIS 
Mrs.  S.  woodruff 
Mrs.  E.  HOMEYER 
L  Miss  S.  J.  THOMPSON 


Vound  Cadies'  Jiuxiliary 

President,    -    -  Mrs.  G.  INGLIS 

Vice-President,  -  Mrs.  J.  E.  DAVIS 

Secretary,    -    -  Miss  IRENE  H.  ODEKIRK 

Treasurer,     -    -  Miss  SUSIE  BURFORD 


Vound  Peoples'  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor 

President,    -    -  Rev.WM.  H.  HENDRICKSON 

Vice-President,  -  Miss  JENNIE  RODMAN 

Secretary,    -    -  Miss  JANET  B.  HAIGHT 

Treasurer,     -    -  Miss  MARY  MURDOCH 


REV.   JACOB   E.    MALLMANN 


Cist  of  ministers  and  Supplies 


Names. 

Ministry 
Commenced 

Ministry 
Closed. 

I.    JOHN  MOORE 1652 

Died,           1657 

2.     WILLIAM  LEVERICH 

1662 

Died,           1677 

3.    MORGAN  JONES      . 

1680 

Resigned,  1686 

4.    JOHN  MORSE    . 

1694 

Died,          1700 

5.    ROBERT  BRECK      . 

1701 

Resigned,  1704 

6.    SAMUEL  PUMROY  . 

1708 

Died,          1744 

7.    GEORGE  McNISH* 

1744 

Resigned,  1746 

8.    SIMON  HORTON      . 

1746 

Resigned,  1773 

9.    ANDREW  BAY* 

1773 

Resigned,  1775 

10.    JAMES  LYONS* 

1783 

Resigned,  1785 

II.    PETER  FISH*    . 

178s 

Resigned,  1788 

12.     ELIHU  PALMER*    . 

1788 

Resigned,  1789 

13.    NATHAN  WOODHULL 

1790 

Died,          1810 

14.    WILLIAM  BOARDMAN 

1810 

Died,          1818 

IS.    JOHN    GOLDSMITH,    D 

D. 

.      1819 

Died,          1854 

16.    JOHN  P.  KNOX,  L.L.D. 

1855 

Died,          1882 

17.    GEORGE  H.  PAYSON,  D 

D.   . 

1882 

Resigned,  1889 

18.    JACOB  E.  MALLMANN 

.      1890 

Resigned,  1895 

19.    WILLIAM  H.  HENDRICKSON         1896 

*  State 

d  su 

pply. 

Cist  of  Elders 


CONTENT  TITUS 
SAMUEL  COE      . 
JAMES  RENNE    . 
SILAS  TITUS 
CORNELIUS  BERRIEN    . 
PHILIP  EDSALL 
SAMUEL  FISH     . 
JOHN  ALBURTIS 
BENJAMIN  COE  . 
JACOB  PALMER. 
RICHARD  BROGAW. 
JESSE  LEVERICH       . 
EDWARD  HOWARD  . 
WILLIAM  LEVERICH 
CHARLES  PALMER  . 
ADRIAN  VAN  SINDREEN 
WILLIAM  HOWARD 
SIMEON  BENJAMIN  . 
JACOB  PALMER  LEVERICH 
ANDREW  B.  RYERSON    . 
SAMUEL  LEVERICH 
ABEL  SAMMIS     . 
THOMAS  DEVINE      . 
WILLIAM  RAIMAN 
JOHN  L.  RIKER  . 
JULIUS  C.  WRIGHT  . 
PETER  LUYSTER,  Jr. 
JOHN  P.  PRALL  . 
FRANCIS  PLAIN 
ROBERT  PIERCE 
JOHN  H.  PRALL 
CORNELIUS  W.  LUYSTER 
ABRAHAM  PROCTOR,  Jr.  . 
GUSTAVE  HAFLINGER  . 
JOHN  F.  RODMAN     . 
COE  F.  HOWARD 


Chosen 


1724 

1724 

1724 

1740 

1742 

1742 

1756 

1767 

1767 

1791 

1791 

1794 

1812 

1812 

1820 

1820 

1820 

1830 

1833 

1833 

1835 

1838 

1838 

1843 

1849 

1849 

1861 

1863 

1877 

1881 

1889 

1889 

1891 

1891 

1891 

1897 


MR.   JOHN    H.    PRALL 
MR.    COE    F.    HOWARD  MR.    GUSTAVE   HAFLINGER 


RULING   ELDERS 


members  Received 

From  the  year  1652  to  1708,  no  records  have  been 
found  of  membership.  The  town  records  state  that  in 
July,  1708,  "  some  scores"  invited  Rev.  Samuel  Pumroy 
to  be  their  pastor,  "  promising  subjection  to  his  doctrine 
and  discipline,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Gospel." 
The  first  eight  names  on  the  following  list  have  been 
preserved  of  the  "  scores "  who  called  him,  as  being 
members  in  full  communion. 


1708. 

Content  Titus, 

Mrs.  Andrew  Colbrith, 

Joseph  Sackett,  St., 

Mercy  Sackett, 

Philip  Ketcham, 

Mary  Moore, 

Caleb  Leverich, 

Mrs.  Tuthill, 

Thomas  Pet+it,  Sr., 

Abigail  Springstein, 

Kezia  Ketcham, 

Sarah  Culver, 

Margaret  Strickland. 

Deborah  Hazard, 

1708. 

Silas  Titus,  Sr,, 

Elizabeth  Hunt, 

to 

Lydia  Pumroy, 

1725. 

Elizabeth  Pumroy. 

1724. 

James  Reune, 

1726. 

Hannah  Morrell. 

Joanna  Hunt, 

1727. 

Thomas   Hunt. 

Sarah  Reune, 

Richard  Wood, 

Mary  Titus, 

Deborah  Burroughs, 

Catharine  Pettit, 

Sarah  Morrell. 

Samuel  Ketcham,  Sr., 

1730. 

Anna  Woodward. 

Margaret  Furman, 

1731. 

Anna  Wood, 

Mercy  Hayard, 

Samuel  Burtis, 

Nathaniel  Hazard, 

Mrs.  Samuel  Burtis, 

Margaret  Hazard, 

Charity  Ketcham, 

Samuel  Coe, 

Benjamin   Cornish, 

Richard  Sackett, 

Judith  Morrell, 

Margaret  Coe, 

Widow  Lawrence, 

Sarah  Titus, 

Martha  Ketcham. 

Mary  White, 

1733- 

Susannah  Comfort, 

Judith  Wood, 

1734- 

Amy  Berrien. 

James  Keile, 

1736. 

Philip  Edsal, 

Mrs.  James  Keile, 

Hannah  Fish, 

Andrew  Colbrith, 

1737. 

Jacob  Reeder, 

62 


Charity  Renne. 

Sarah  Culver. 

1738. 

Samuel  Fish,  Sr., 

1763. 

John  Alburtis, 

Timothy  Wood, 

Sarah  Cornish, 

John  Reeder, 

Hannah  Ketcham. 

Wm.   Burroughs, 

1765- 

Benjamin  Cornish, 

Susannah  Howard, 

Elsie  Divine. 

Elizabeth  Hunt, 

1766. 

Benjamin  Coe, 

Sarah   Morrel, 

Benjamin  North, 

Cornelius  Berrien,  Jr., 

Margaret  North. 

Hannah  Bailey, 

1768. 

James  Pettit, 

Nathaniel  Bailey, 

Keziah  Morrell, 

Margaret  Burroughs. 

Mary  Palmer, 

1739- 

Phebe  Hunt, 

Jannetie  Divine. 

Jonathan  Hunt. 

1769. 

Dorothy  Leverich, 

1740; 

Samuel  Hallett,  Sr., 

Sarah  Morrell, 

Abigail  Smith. 

Abigail  Wainwright, 

1742. 

Samuel  Bruce. 

John  Pettit, 

1743- 

Susannah  Morrell. 

Mrs.  John  Pettit. 

1744  to  1746.     No  record  of  mem 

-1770. 

Ann  Moore. 

bership  received. 

1771. 

Joshua  Ketcham. 

1758. 

Amy  Cornish, 

The  above  is  unquestionably  an  imperfect  list  of  the 
members  received  by  Mr.  Horton  during  his  ministry, 
from  1746  to  1773.  His  records  of  Baptisms,  Mar- 
riages and  Deaths  are  full  and  perfect  for  each  year. 
That  of  members  received  has  been  lost  from  the  old 
book,  save  the  few  names  above  recorded  at  the  close  of 
the  list  of  those  received  by  Mr.  Pumroy. 

The  following  additional  names  of  adults  are  recorded 
among  those  who  were  baptized,  or  as  having  "  entered 
into  covenant." 


1752. 

William  Furman, 

Mary  Alburtus. 

William   Sackett, 

1759- 

Richard  Betts, 

Elizabeth  Leverich, 

Elizabeth  Betts, 

John  Cornish. 

Robert  Morrell, 

1753. 

Elias  Daly,  Jr., 

Rebecca  Morrell. 

William  Laurence. 

1760. 

John  Gersline, 

1754- 

John  Hambleton. 

Thos.  Cumberson, 

1755- 

Richard  Penfold, 

Wm.  Devine, 

Paul  Alburtus, 

Mrs.  Wm.  Devine, 

63 


Mrs.  John  Alburtus. 
1763.    Abraham  Devine, 
Lydia  Watkins, 
Phebe  Coe. 


1766.     Nathan  Furman. 
1771.     Susannah  Fish, 
Jacob  Palmer. 


1775  to  1790.     No  record  of  membership  in  existence. 


1790.  Jacob  Palmer  and  Wife, 

John  Hamilton  and  Wife,   1798. 

Richard  Leverich, 

Elizabeth  Coe, 

Sarah  Edsal, 

Abigail  Pettit,  1799. 

Sarah  Woodard, 

Robert  Gillmore,  1800. 

Richard  Brogaw, 

Mary  Howard,  1801. 

Fanny   Stillwill. 

1791.  Elizabeth  Titus, 
Anna  Strang, 
Susannah  Leverich, 
Richard  Berrien, 

Jesse  Leverich,  1803. 

Ghaske  Leverich, 
Peggy  Remsen. 

1792.  William  Howard, 
Callaman,  Sert.  of  G.  Coe, 
Sarah,  Sert.   Mr.   Remsen,  1804. 
Kate,  Sert.  R.  Furman,       1805. 
Isaac  Smith, 

Mrs.  Merrel,  wife  of  Jesse 
Merrel,  1808. 

Charity,  Sr.  of  Widow 
Remsen,  1809. 

Eve,  Sr.  of  Ben.  Betts, 

Bette,  Sr.  of  Wm.  Howard, 

Elizabeth  Palmer. 

1793.  Hannah  Culver, 
Lydia  Blackwell, 
Jane  Bailey. 

1794.  Mary  Lawrence, 
Jemima  Furman, 

Mrs.  Lane,  wife  of  P.  Lane, 
Mrs.   Leverich,  wife  of  S.1811. 
Leverich. 

1795.  Mary  Ketcham, 

Wm.   Leverich,  1812. 


Elvan  Hyatt  and  his  Wife. 

Mrs.  Lent, 

Stephen  Hoyt, 

Edward  Howard, 

Elizabeth  Morrel. 

Mary  Hamilton, 

Robert  Moore. 

Thomas  Hecks  &  his  wife, 

Abraham  Morrel. 

Edward  Leverich  &  Wife, 

Wm.  Howard, 

Mrs.  Wm.  Gorsline, 

Benjamin  Howard, 

Abel  Ketcham, 

Elizabeth  Wiggins. 

William  Penfold  and  wife, 

Mrs.  Gabriel  Leverich, 

Mrs.  Bois, 

Joseph  Gosline, 

Mrs.  Jonathan  Sackett. 

Peter  Remsen. 

Wilmot  Oakley, 

Wm.  Painter  and  Wife. 

Wm.  Gray. 

Eve  Lawrence, 

Sarah  Palmer. 

Mrs.  Hopper, 

Wm.  S.  Rayner, 

Luke  Remsen, 

Adrian  Vansenderen, 

Abm.  Culver, 

Phebe  Saydam, 

Hannah  McDonack, 

Maria  Vansenderen, 

Cornelia  Leverich, 

Aletta  Manifold. 

Ann  Ledyard, 

Mary  Ledyard, 

Mr.  Tylee. 

Jane  White, 


64 


i8i3. 


1814. 


Sarah  Coe. 

Catharine  Coe,  to 

Mary  Coe, 

Sally  WoodhuU,  1816. 

Anna  P.  Leverich, 

Abby  Leverich, 

Rebecca  Smith, 

John  Morrell, 

Benjamin  E.  Coe, 

Ely  Benedict, 

Temperance  Tucker, 

Jane  Lawrence, 

Nancy  Fish,  1820. 

Betsy  Fish, 

Jonathan  Howard, 

Elizabeth  Betts, 

Mary  Gorslin, 

Elizabeth  Berrien, 

Catharine  Morrell, 

Jane  Betts, 

Patience  Leverich, 

Elizabeth  Remsen, 

William  Morrel, 

Gertrude  R.  Leverich. 

Charles  Palmer, 

Susannah,  wife  of  Thomas, 

Astick  Stratton, 

Mary  Berrien, 

Deborah  Haviland, 

Mary  Howard. 

Lucretia  Morrell, 

Martha  Colder, 

Anna  Morrell, 

Jane  Fish, 

Mary  Howard, 

Betsy  Palmer, 

Aletta  Palmer, 

John  Oliver, 

Jane  OHver, 

Henry  Oliver, 

Mary  Oliver, 

John  E.  Tomkins, 

Aletta  Palmer, 

Elizh.  A.  Underbill, 

John  Peebles, 

Frances  Coe.  1823. 

Hannah  Cumberson, 


1821. 


1822. 


Sally  Berrian, 
John  Pott, 
George  Woodbridge, 
Abiram  Chamberlain, 
Anna  Luyster, 
Caroline  Woodbridge, 
Susannah  Leverich, 
Elizabeth  Strang, 
John  Jackson, 
Thomas  Johnson, 
James  Hallett, 
John  Hallett. 
Ellen  W.  Woodhull, 
Eliza  F.  Leverich, 
Samuel  Lindsday, 
Sarah  Smith, 
Susan  Folk, 
Susan  Hallett, 
Ann  Luyster, 
Hannah  Sackett, 
Sarah  Leverich, 
Margaret  Monfort, 
Catharine  Phares, 
Mary  Phares, 
Joseph  Phares, 
Peter  Luyster, 
Wm.  Monfort, 
Joseph  Leverich, 
Daniel  Halsey, 
Sarah  Townsend, 
Ann   Peebles, 
John  Painter, 
Sarah  Painter, 
James  Leonard. 
Alexander  Johnson, 
Robert  Lindsday, 
Mary  Van  Sindren, 
Mary  Remsen, 
Palmer  Leverich. 
John  Leverich, 
Aletta  Leverich, 
Eliza  Furman, 
Mrs.  Starr, 
Magaret  White, 
Edmund  Hallet. 
Eliza  Van  Senderen, 
Mary  Demur. 


65 


1824. 

Sarah  Leverich, 

John  Peterson, 

Mary  Tylee, 

Mary  J.  Berrian, 

Nancy  Duryea, 

Grace  Waterman, 

Simeon  Benjamin. 

Deborah  A.  Howard, 

i82S. 

Cornelia  Lyman, 

Gertrude  Sackett, 

Levi  Hedges, 

Sarah  Betts, 

Ellen  Gorsline, 

George  Howard, 

Sarah  Gorsline, 

Jane   Peterson, 

Adeline  Gorsline. 

Henry  Durland, 

1826. 

Amy  Goglet, 

Ann  Durland. 

Ann  Loyd, 

1832. 

Elizabeth  Leverich, 

Samuel  Leverich, 

Andrew  B.  Ryerson, 

Jane  Jackson, 

Phebe  Jackson, 

Freelove  Johnson. 

George  Durland, 

1827. 

Mary  Lot, 

Judith  Durland, 

Anna  Leverich, 

Elizabeth  Murch, 

Nancy  Lane, 

Frances  Stocker, 

Anna  Palmer, 

Joseph  A.  Sexton, 

Mary  Bruce, 

Susan  Brogaw, 

Eleanor  Youle, 

Sarah  Lewis, 

Hannah  Baylies, 

Susannah  Kinkaid. 

Mrs.  James  Lot, 

1833- 

Jane  Burroughs, 

Cornelia  Strang. 

Elizabeth  Cershow, 

1828. 

Ellen  Mundy, 

Mary  Sammis, 

Margaret  Gorsline, 

Mary  Wetmore, 

William  Luyster. 

Hannah  Wetmore, 

1829. 

Samuel   Palmer, 

Maria  Wetmore, 

Patience  Leverich, 

Agnes  Baylies. 

Steward  Maxwell. 

1834. 

John  Murch, 

1830. 

Louisa  Rider, 

Alexander  Mcintosh, 

Sarah  Sammis, 

Catharine  Moore, 

Thomas  Kinkaid, 

Catharine  T.  Davidson, 

Betsy   Barrian, 

Sarah  Peebles. 

Sarah  Palmer, 

1835. 

Judith  Schenck. 

Sally  Marshall, 

1836. 

Samuel  R.  Ward, 

Nancy  Buist, 

Catharine  Mcintosh. 

1831. 

Harriet  Punnett, 

1837. 

Thomas  Devine, 

Abel  Sammis, 

Catharine  Devine, 

Jane  Willet, 

James  Strickland, 

Mary  Hunter, 

Elizabeth  Strickland, 

Margaret  Betts, 

Wm.  C.  Spratt. 

Jane  Luyster, 

1838. 

Maria  Plane, 

Cornelia  Howard, 

Agnes  Mcintosh, 

Hannah  King, 

James  Lewis, 

Mary  Jackson, 

1839. 

Dr.  Julius  C.  Wright, 

Katy  Durland, 

Elizabeth  Bragaw, 

John  Potter, 

5 

Rachel  Garrison, 

66 


Mrs.  Schenk, 

Rachel  Frew, 

Jane  P.  Leverich, 

Wm.  Hammil, 

John  L.  Riker, 

Margaret  S.   Hammil, 

Lavinia  Riker, 

Mrs.  Caroline  Luyster, 

Peter  Van  Pelt, 

Cornelia  Luyster, 

Maria  Van  Pelt, 

Elizabeth  Morrell. 

Maria  Hallet. 

1848. 

Ann  Burroughs, 

1840. 

Catharine  M.  Paynter, 

Elizabeth  D.  Hull, 

Abigail  Pettit, 

Jeremiah  DeGraflf, 

Hannah  Leverich, 

Caroline  DeGraff, 

Catharine  E.  Morrell, 

Ellen  L.  Timpson. 

Evelina  Cornel. 

1849. 

May  A.   Peebles, 

I84I. 

Philip  H.  Moore, 

Andrew  Scott, 

Aaron  Howard, 

Hannah  Scott, 

Jeremiah  Palmer, 

Matilda  D.  Leverich, 

Mary  A.  Palmer, 

Sarah  Baird. 

Cornelius  Luyster, 

Wm.  M.  Raymond, 

Ellen  Luyster, 

Peter  Gersline,  Jr., 

Andrew  B.  Ryerson. 

John  W.  Crane,  M.D. 

1842. 

Eliza  Goldsmith, 

Mary  H.  Crane. 

Jane  Townsend  Leverich, 

1851. 

Francis  Curran, 

Margaret  Leverich, 

Mary  Lewis, 

Mary  Lewis, 

Frederick  Bell, 

James  Martin, 

Sophia  Bell, 

Michael  McCrea, 

George  W.  Hall. 

Mary  Ann  Gustin, 

1852. 

Richard  Gould, 

Taliafero  H.  Goldsmith, 

Keturah  Gould, 

Elizabeth  Hendrickson, 

Catharine  L.  Luyster, 

Wm.  Johnson, 

Anna  L.  Leverich. 

Elizabeth  Samis, 

1853. 

Mariah  Goldsmith, 

Sarah  Martin. 

Ann  Powell, 

1843- 

Wm.  Raiman, 

John  H.  Teves, 

Ann  Raiman, 

Anna  M.  Teves, 

Susan  A.  Luyster, 

Philip  Furman, 

Rebecca  Townsend, 

Mary  Furman, 

Garret  S.  Strang, 

Elizabeth  Cogswell. 

John  Folk, 

1854. 

Elizabeth  Murch, 

Susan  Folk, 

Eliza  Ward, 

Wm.  Gosman, 

Elizabeth  Gossman. 

Sarah  Jane  Howard, 

1855. 

Susan  Farrel. 

William  Leverich. 

1856. 

John  Patterson, 

1844- 

Andrew  Scott, 

Arietta  Patterson, 

Margaret  Scott. 

Mary  Ann  Riker, 

1845- 

Moses  Schenk, 

Peter  Luyster,  Jr., 

Clarissa  Spratt, 

Hannah  Folk, 

Catharine  Moore. 

Susan  Sprague, 

1847- 

Ezra  Berrian, 

Joseph  G.  Remsen, 

6; 


i857. 


1858. 


1859. 


i860. 


1861. 


1862. 


Mary  A.  Coles, 

1863. 

Joninah  Shaw, 

John  Peebles, 

Mary  C.  Spratt, 

Mary  Peebles, 

Ann  E.  Mack, 

Lavinia  Riker, 

Dr.  Wm.  H.  Humbert, 

Gertrude  L.  Gorsline, 

Susan  Humbert, 

Mary  F.  Gorsline, 

Elizabeth  Van   Wickle, 

Elizabeth  Mander, 

Aletta  V.  D.  Knox, 

Mary  Peebles. 

Elizabeth  Campbell. 

Susan  M.  Folk, 

1864. 

John  B.  Mcintosh, 

Eliza  Graham, 

C.  B.  Sherman, 

James  Smith, 

Catharine  V.  Knox. 

Hannah  A.  R.  Hyatt, 

1865. 

Charles  D.  Leverich, 

Hannah  Elizabeth  Knox. 

Julia  L.  Leverich, 

Melchior  C.  G.  Witte, 

Sarah  D.  Goldsmith, 

Mary  E.  Witte, 

Mary  A.  Odekirk. 

Catharine  Sprague, 

1866. 

Wm.  Greenlie, 

Cornelia  Strang, 

Georgiana  Greenlie, 

Ann  E.  Strang, 

Charlotte  Shears, 

Adeline  Goldsmith, 

Anna  M.   Denton, 

James  S.  Knox, 

Amelia  A.  Denton, 

Wm.  W.   Knox, 

Julia  W.  Wright, 

Gertrude  Mundy, 

Arthur  B.  Graves, 

Sarah  J.  Van  Pelt. 

Jennie  R.  Graves, 

Ann  Gray, 

Sarah  M.  Denton, 

Sarah  Luyster, 

Phebe  Denton, 

Nancy  Palmer, 

Rhoda  M.  Shears, 

Mary  Faulkner, 

Sarah  A.  Raiman, 

Elizabeth  Faulkner. 

Maria  McNeal, 

Emily  L.  Faulkner, 

Amanda  Brower. 

John  Moule, 

1867. 

James  Campbell, 

Marianne  W.  Moule. 

Christina  Campbell, 

Alexander  Kenny, 

Eleanor  P.  Trippe, 

Mary  E.  Hyatt, 

Mary  Faulkner, 

James  McArthur, 

Charlotte  D.  Knox, 

Georgia  N.  Knox, 

Matilda  R.  Leverich. 

James  Smith, 

1868. 

Elizabeth  Kieth, 

John  P.  Prall, 

S.  Duncan  Leverich. 

Elizabeth  M.  Prall, 

1869. 

Sarah  A.  Wright. 

Wm.  Wheaton, 

1870. 

Anson  P.  Norton, 

Jane  L.  Wheaton, 

Jane  Norton, 

Josephine  Field, 

Louisa  Arnoldi, 

Francis  Plain. 

Bertha  Trippe, 

Mary  Price, 

Eliza  Bradish, 

Mary  J.  Price, 

Eliza  Bradish, 

Emily  Duncan, 

Chas.  S.  Bradish, 

Abraham   S.   Bergen, 

Fanny  S.  Wright. 

Maria  Bergen. 

187 1. 

Edith  Brown, 

68 


i872. 
1873. 

1874. 
1875. 


1876. 


1877. 


1878. 
1879. 

1880. 


Sarah  A.  Barmore, 
Jemima  A.  Barmore, 
Kate  Mundy, 
Louisa  P.  Shears. 
Samuel  A.  Wright. 
Margery  Kenny, 
Henry  M.  Luyster. 
Cornelius  W.  Luyster, 
Anna  Salina  Shears, 
Lydia  A.  Howard, 
John  H.  Prall, 
Wm.  R.  Prall, 
Abm.  Proctor,  Jr. 
Francis  G.  McArthur, 
Mary  C.  Prall, 
Sarah  P.  Mundy, 
Cornelia  E.  Barmore, 
Jonathan  C.  Howard, 
John  H.  D.  Barmore. 
Elizabeth  Smith, 
Sarah  Smith, 
Charles  S.  Barmore, 
Cornelia  Lansing, 
Sarah  C.  Kingsbury, 
John  Burroughs, 
Amelia  A.  Burroughs, 
Harriet  A.  Bogart. 
Sarah  B.  Hatch, 
Sarah  Ella  Hatch. 
Abbie  White. 
Coe  F.  Howard, 
Anna  E.  Howard, 
Dr.  Abbot  C.  Combes, 
Margaret  Inglis. 
Harriet  D.  Luyster, 
Thomas  Weaver, 
Emily  Weaver, 
Clementina  McKinley. 
Phoebe  E.  Meissnes, 
George  Burr, 
Mary  Burr, 
Frederick  Meeks, 
Margaret  D.  Meeks, 
Robert  Pierce, 
Mary  Pierce. 
Joseph  Manwaring, 
Edward  C.  Davis, 


Mary  A.  Davis, 
Mary  A.  Terhune,   • 
Sarah  E.  Daniels, 
Francis  M.  Terhune, 
Griffith  Teller, 
Charlotte  Teller, 
Minnie  Teller. 

1882.  Alexander  Baxter, 
George  A.  Wren, 
George  P.  Norton. 

1883.  Esther  E.  Norton, 
William  H.  Duryea, 
Cornelia  A.  Duryea, 
Walter  Manwaring, 
J.  L.  M.  Hathaway, 
George  E.  Hathaway, 
Albert  D.  Teller, 
Richard  Hathaway, 
Maria  L.  M.  Hathaway, 
Mary  Payson, 

Mary  Lewis, 
Elizabeth  E.  Cox, 
Annie  S.  Burr, 
Margaret  J.  Smith, 
Elizabeth  G.  Snelling, 
Henry  Campbell, 
Thomas  H.  Lewis, 
Amanda  Lewis, 
Emma  A.  Hubbs, 
Louisa  Mundy, 
Agnes  E.  Smith, 
Marion  E.  Campbell, 
Frederick  W.  Burr, 
Robert  H.  Pierce, 
Lillian  M.  Johnson, 
Eliza  J.  Bogart, 
Emma  L.  Barmore, 
Mary  E.  Woods, 
Clara  E.  Davis, 
Ada  L.  Cox, 
Ann  E.  Duryea, 
J.  W.  Morgan, 
Laura  J.  Proctor, 
Phoebe  J.  Taylor, 
Beatrice  Brown, 
Carrie  L.  Woodruff, 
Amy  F.  Weaver. 


69 


1884.  Susie  P.  Taylor, 
James  Miller, 
Nellie  Norton, 
Clarissa  E.  Snelling, 
Stephen  Duryea, 
Ida  Worth, 
Jennie   R.    Clark, 
Theodore  J.  Cox, 
James  R.  Smith, 
James  Proctor, 
Mary  Proctor. 

1885.  Mr.  Banks, 
Mrs.  Banks, 
Jane  Haflinger, 
Frank  S.  Smith, 
Mary  A.  Devany, 
Elizabeth  Smith, 
Robert  McK.  Powers, 
Sarah  A.  Conklin, 
Ellen  A.  Ingam. 

1886.  Mary  A.  Luyster, 
Bessie  Lawrence, 
Elizabeth  Ferguson, 
Emma  Brown, 
Gustave  Haflinger, 
Minnie  L.  Rodman, 
Sarah  E.  Palmer, 
Charlotte  A.  Palmer, 
Lorenzo  J.  Jones, 
Charlotte  A.  Cox, 
Margaret  J.  Nelson, 
John  H.  Jebens, 
Samuel  A.  McKinney, 
Gertrude  C.  McKinney, 
Grace  Gillingham. 

1887.  Samuel  T.  Porter, 
Agnes  McLean, 
Almira  S.  White, 
Caroline  L  Rodman, 
Aletta  K.  Lawrence, 
Clarence  E.  Mundy, 
William  H.  Jebens, 
Irene  Taylor, 
Matilda  R.  Jebens, 
Louisa  Jebens, 
John  W.  Smith. 

1888.  Mary  J.  Wood, 


Emma  Manwaring, 
John  G.  Scheper, 
Mary  Scheper, 
Anna  M.  C.  Scheper, 
Carrie  E.  Spratt, 
Maud  A.  Haflinger, 
Susie  J.  Maynard, 
H.  T.  Rodman, 
John  F.  Rodman,  Jr., 
John  F.  Rodman, 
Mary  Rodman, 
Jean  C.  Prall, 
Ann  G.  Cox, 
Sarah  A.  Woodruff. 

1889.  William  Karsens, 
Frances  Plain, 
Lizzie  Campbell. 

1890.  Ella  A.  Cox, 
Louisa  Karsens, 
Henry  J.  Karsens, 
Ida  E.  Smith. 

1891.  Charles  Estergarde, 
George  Estergarde, 
James  Estergarde, 
Caroline  Estergarde, 
Thomas  E.  Hardgrove, 
Sophie  Hardgrove. 
Thomas  D.  L.  Hardgrove, 
Roberta  B.  Pettit, 
Albert  C.  Price, 

Mary  Gerbe, 
Theresa  Leisner, 
Anna  M.  Chamberlain, 
Joseph  B.  Chamberlain, 
Abraham  Proctor,  Jr., 
Mary  C.  Proctor, 
Hannah  M.  Mallmann, 
Ruth  R.  Mallmann, 
Anna  A.  Losee, 

1892.  Richard  Bragaw, 
Janet  D.  Bragaw, 
David  A.  Smith, 
Agnes  McLean, 
George  W.  Taylor, 
Jane  C.  Heaney, 
Alexander  Scott, 
Mrs.  A.  Scott, 


70 


Emma  T.  North, 
Nathaniel  Heaney,  Jr., 
John  Edward  Davis, 
Robert  N.  Irwin, 
John  A.  Rapelyea, 
Philip  Kochersberger, 
Nora  Harper, 
James  Shilson, 
James  R.  Macdougal, 
Maria  D.  C.  Mallmann, 
Carrie  A.  Dudley. 

1893.  Emma  A.  Rodman, 
Sarah  J.  Thompson, 
Susan  M.  Smith, 
Charlotte  B.  Scheper, 
Jane  Donaldson, 
Mary  E.  Spratt, 
Martha  E.  Douglass, 
Cornelia  Manwaring. 

1894.  Annie  Rapelyea, 
Addie  M.  Meinikheim, 
Josephine  Williams, 

D.  Wilhelmina  Jebens, 
Ida  F.  Douglass. 

1895.  John    A.    Lang, 
Frances  J.  Lang, 
Kate  Geweye, 
Elizabeth  Homeyer, 
George  Shuttleworth. 

1896.  Annie  F.  Hendrickson, 
Lillian  Hendrickson, 
Walter  E.  Hendrickson. 

1897.  Elizabeth  T.  Jones, 
John  Boyes, 
Margaret  Boyes, 
Ida  A.  Johnson, 
Maria  E.  Johnson, 
J.  Walter  Hartman, 
Minnie  B.  Hartman, 
Augusta  Powell, 
Eugene  S.  Price, 
John  Goldsmith  Prall, 
Wallace  J.  Hardgrove, 
May  N.  Hardgrove, 
Lucy  J.  Hardgrove, 
Franklin  B.  Smith, 
Jennie  S.  Rodman, 


Thomas  L.  Proctor, 
Henry  Blackwell, 
Jennie  H.  Blackwell, 
Charles  Hendry, 
Jean  A.  Hendry, 
George  Grover, 
Edith  M.  Grover, 
Lulu  Grover, 
Katie  Grover, 
Emily  H.  Winton, 
Matilda  Perry, 
Fred.  H.  Mead, 
Henne  F.  Mead, 
Eleanor  Price, 
Arthur  D.  White, 
George  A.  Spencer. 

1898.  Jessie  M.  Wright, 
Florence  Pedley, 
Frank  Dirlam, 
Mary  B.  Wells, 
Bertha  K.  Wells, 
Annie  C.  Smiley, 
Eliza  A.  McPherson, 
Richard  Homeyer, 
Janet  B.  Haight. 

1899.  Edward  F.  England, 
Helen  S.  Bennett, 
Henrietta  S.  Bennett, 
William  S.  Bennett, 
Mary  E.  Grant, 
Marie  A.  Cox, 
Oliver  C.  Grant, 
Florence  M.  Grant, 
Sarah  A.  Hendrickson, 
George  L.  Marshall, 
Emma  L.  Proctor, 
Elizabeth  A.  Hunter, 
Sarah  Campbell, 
Phebe  Morgan, 
Mary  C.  Murdoch, 
Janet  Tulloch. 

1900.  Rebecca  K.  Garrett, 
Sarah  Baxter, 

Isabel  H.  Van  Wickle, 
Amy  G.  Scott, 
Nellie  W.  Grant, 
Charles  A.  Van  Wickle, 


71 


Anna  E.  Marshall, 
Richard  H.  Way, 
Florence  M.  Way, 
William  F.  Hamilton, 
Lillian  M.  Hamilton, 
Clara  F.  Bond, 
Margaret  G.  Nelson, 
Abbie  L.  Bunting, 
Maggie  Schumacher, 
Minnie  Schumacher, 
Grace  E.  Whitaker, 
Mary  Grace  Shilson, 
John  Nelson, 
Rose  Nelson. 
1901.     Barton  W.  Brush,  M.D., 
Mabel  H.  Foster  Brush, 
Margaret  Parker, 
Margaret  Ann  Parker, 
Clara  D.  Jones, 
Jane  D.  Walrath, 


Annie  H.  Forbell, 
Susan  P.  Burford, 
Cora  L.  Carrie, 
Sarah  A.  Manwaring, 
James  Campbell, 
James  H.  Robinson, 
Alexander  MacKenzie. 
1902.     Benjamin  H.  Davis, 
Carrie  M.  Davis, 
Ada  C.  Merz, 
Mary  E.  Carrie, 
David  J.  Murray, 
Grace  B.  Murray, 
Grace  F.  Murray, 
Douglas  G.  Hardgrove, 
Maud  J.  Southwick, 
Elizabeth  Simonson, 
Celia  Amanda  Homeyer, 
Wm.  F.  Young, 
Irene  L.  Gregory. 


)<-(*^C(p> 


A     000  607  252     4 


^•SA^ 


